A much loved member of the Peaceful Pines Senior Living community since 2018 and a nearly lifelong resident of Rapid City, Norman "Norm" Emmett Griggs, 90, passed away peacefully at home on April 4, 2023.  He is preceded in death by his wife of nearly 50 years, Sally Wall Griggs (2020) and his brothers Paul (2011) and Glenn (2016).

Born in Camp Crook, SD, in March 1933, Norm was the youngest of three boys born to Pearl Hett Griggs and John Emmett Griggs.

His maternal grandparent's homestead in Buffalo, SD, was a source of joy for Norman throughout the years. Until third grade, Norm would spend every summer there, and many of his fondest memories and stories included vignettes from life on the ranch as a boy. He, along with his brothers Glenn "Happy" and Paul roamed the seemingly endless terrain and enjoyed the wonders of the wild ranges, all while learning how to work a ranch. As the youngest he was frequently the one sent into the actual and proverbial fox den to root out the intruders, and his stories (persuasively told) throughout the years reflect his memories and love of that rugged land.

Shortly after graduating from high school in Rapid City, Norm found himself drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Because of his typing skills, he sidestepped the front line and was instead sent to Germany as a clerk. When he returned in 1955, he worked for a short time with the fire department until he began work at the Post Office.

A cowboy at heart, Norm purchased a 40-acre ranch in Rapid Valley with his first wife, Phyllis, in 1957.  Here, they raised cattle and horses for nearly 14 years. He also showed horses and enjoyed competing in rodeos in his younger years and even bulldogged (steer wrestled) into his fifties. He was President of the Black Hills Roping Club in 1971 and a senior Life Member of the Western South Dakota Buckaroos. In his later years he became a devoted fan of the Cowboy Channel, where he could pursue his love of rodeo from the comfort of his couch.

In 1989, he retired from a career in the US Postal Service after 33 years of service working as an auditor, an examiner, and finally, a postmaster in New Underwood. In retirement, he pursued his many hobbies to include wood and leather working, fishing, baking decadent holiday candies, and fighting weeds in the lawn... During this time, he and Sally pursued travel with his brothers and their wives. This sixsome would travel frequently exploring areas near their respective homes in Wichita, KS and Hayden, ID.

Famous for his love of yard sales, Norm had a good eye for hunting-out treasures and later in repackaging lots and selling them in an annual garage sale at their home on Wonderland Drive. Many of his stories are launched with " I was at an auction (or rummage sale) and I found the darnedest thing...".

He and Sally actively volunteered at the Canyon Lake Activity Center, participating in meal preparation and the annual flea market. They also took frequent weekend outtings with Sally's brother Pete and sister-in-law Marge, where they would compete to find the best treasures at rummage sales.  He loved snowskiing and fishing and was recognized in the Rapid City Journal for his 16 lb lake trout caught in Pactola in 2002.

Norm had a lifelong love of music (he could and did sing along to anything) and dancing, which he pursued until he was no longer able. In his later years, Norm taught himself to play the guitar and later still he pursued and created an Oldies Sing-Along with his friend Betty at Peaceful Pines. It is now a much loved weekly community event regularly attended by 30 to 40 residents. He also enjoyed having Alexa bring his beloved classic country music into his living room to include his favorite - Marty Robbins' Strawberry Roan.

Norm was one of those rare individuals who effortlessly brought smiles to those around him and simply made the world a little brighter. An unfailingly kind man, the most common comments received by his daughters were "your dad is simply the nicest man" and "Norm always gets us laughing with his stories." He never did understand the impact he had on others in this lifetime. Perhaps he will in the next... We are all better for having known and loved him.

Norman will be dearly missed by his devoted daughters, Tracy Griggs (John Kocher) and Laura (Matt) Mehlhaf and his son Mark (Lisa) Wall.  He is mourned by his granddaughters, Shaundra Eichstadt, Alicia Dreyer, Andrea Clark, his sister-in-laws Bev and Ruth and their families, his sister Maxine Bradley, the Hett family, and countless other family and friends who called Norm friend.

Friends and family are invited to a funeral service on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.  Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m.  Norman will be laid to rest on Monday, April 10 at high-noon at Black Hills National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children or The Canyon Lake Activity Center.