RAPID CITY | Nellie Mae Hunicke, of Johnson Siding, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. She was 89. Nellie was born on July 19, 1923, in Chicago, the daughter and only child of Hattie and Walter Hunicke. A distinguished student, she lived in Chicago until 1952. In that year she married Leslie Tuttle of Geddes, SD, who was a major in the United States Army. They moved to Brooklyn, NY, when Major Tuttle was transferred to Fort Hamilton. Soon thereafter he was assigned to active duty in the Korean War where he was awarded the Bronze Star. While her husband was overseas, Nellie gave birth to their only son in 1953. In addition to being a wife and mother, Nellie worked at Abraham & Straus, a New York department store, as manager of their pet department. She was also an active volunteer for the American Red Cross and the Industrial Home for the Blind. Nellie graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1981 where she earned a master's degree. She then worked as a secondary school science teacher in Mount Vernon, New York. Upon retirement from teaching in 1993, Nellie moved to the Rapid City area, having acquired a love for South Dakota from her husband, who predeceased her in 1985. Living quietly in Johnson Siding, she enjoyed supporting local philanthropic organizations including the Cornerstone Mission and Rapid City Christian School. She enjoyed travel, music, reading, cooking, sewing, horticulture, and classic cinema, especially John Wayne movies. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Leslie Tuttle Jr. and Marie Tuttle, of Carthage, NY; grandchildren, Sara Fitz-Gerald, Greenbank, Ontario; Rebecca Ushiroda, Las Vegas, NV; Matthew Tuttle, Binghamton, NY; Mary Tuttle, Binghamton, NY; Grace Tuttle, Carthage, NY. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren. Her husband, Major Tuttle, passed away in 1985. Nellie also leaves behind her beloved friends including Paige Winkler, Cindy Fowler, Jerry Peacock, and Whitey Schaefer who gave her much help and support, especially in her advanced age. Graveside services with interment will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 25, at Mountain View Cemetery. A funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 10:15 a.m.