HEYBURN – Clarice Mae Groesbeck, 84, of Heyburn, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at her home.
She was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on Aug. 23, 1928, to Otto and Lillian Deide. As an only daughter, she so appreciated her three brothers, Lloyd Milton, Darrell (LaDonna), and Del Deide (Lois). In 1936, she moved with her family from Iowa to Nampa, later making Caldwell a permanent home in 1937. Clarice soon learned the responsibilities of running the domestic part of a farm family, and she graduated from Caldwell High in 1947. She also did clod picking in potato harvest and worked at Evans fly-tying company, snelling hooks.
The skills her mother taught her were passed on to her own family when she met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Thomas Groesbeck, at a dance hall in Caldwell. She and Dick were married on May 29, 1948, in Nampa, Idaho, and this was the beginning of a lifetime of togetherness and Clarice’s work as Dick’s full-time cook. Dick’s profession took the family to parts of Montana: Missoula, Boulder, Helena, and Great Falls. Born to this union in 1949, was daughter, Cathy (Jerald Kraus), and in 1953, son, Jerry (Terry). In 1959, Dick’s work brought them back to Idaho, where they settled in the Mini-Cassia area.
There were seldom times when you saw Dick without Clarice, although they went to their own coffee shops. Clarice enjoyed making life-long friends, and her sense of humor brightened a room; she never forgot the punch line of a joke. She was a member and past president of the Rupert Lady Elks and Rupert Country Club. Her hobbies included bowling and golfing, for which she won many awards. She enjoyed snow skiing with her friends and family, but excelled at waterskiing and teaching others how to get up and stay up in the water. Another past time was out-fishing Dick, and beating anyone at Gin Rummy. We will all remember her excellent cooking – no one could make a peanut brittle like her, and so many were treated to her three layer German chocolate cakes on their birthdays. This May, Dick and Clarice would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
She has four grandchildren, Lynn (Dan Boberg), Lisa, Tina, and Nicholas (Shanna Kraus); and six great-grandchildren: Bobergs: Natalie, Julia, and Kira; Tina Kraus: Jillian; and Nick Kraus: Karter and Kate.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Guy and Eva Groesbeck; one brother, Lloyd Milton Deide; her grandson, Jerald Matthew Kraus; and two nephews, Roger Deide, and Mark Deide.
We will miss you Mom (Granny Goose), Love you more!
The funeral was held Thursday, April 18, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley.
In lieu of flowers, Clarice requested that you make a donation to your local animal shelter or a dog rescue organization.
Condolences to the family may be mailed to Rasmussen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 878, Burley, ID 83318