Norbert Geidel: 1931-2021
Norbert Geidel, 90, of Freeman, S.D., passed away on September 23 at the Freeman hospital. A joint funeral service for Norbert and his wife, Marlene, will be held on Friday, September 24 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Freeman.
Norbert was born to Arnold and Martha (Sperlich) Geidel on June 12, 1931 on the home farm in rural Hutchinson County west of Dimock, S.D. He was oldest of five children.
He was baptized on July 5, 1931 and confirmed on June 24, 1945 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dimock.
He helped his father on the farm until he found employment in Mitchell, S.D. Norby was a jack of all trades. He worked for the Bus Depot cleaning buses, Pepsi plant, International garage as a parts man.
Norby met the love of his life Marlene whom was attending nursing school in Mitchell at the time. After they married on July 24, 1955, he worked road construction on I-90 at Wall, S.D. and Faith, S.D., then later as an auto mechanic at Grosz filling station. He later become owner of Norby’s DX. Once he sold the station, he worked at Goodyear Tires and Iverson Max.
Farming being in his blood he bought an acreage southeast of Mitchell and as many farmers did, he worked a full-time job and farmed evening and weekends. Due to health reasons he had to sell the acreage. At that time he took the opportunity to move to Rapid City to work for a longtime friend who owned an arcade equipment company until his retirement in 1995.
He enjoyed traveling in their 5th wheel to Arizona where it was nice and warm in the winter, forming some lifelong friendships. When they would return to Rapid City in the summer, he would work at Hart Ranch helping recover pool tables and handyman jobs. Later they settled at Corral Park Apartments where he did janitorial and maintenance.
In 2007 they left Rapid City and moved to Freeman. Here he was employed by Fensel’s greenhouse and The Salem Mennonite Home.
Norby was man of few words but his actions said plenty. He loved to stay busy and active often putzing around the yard, gardening and wood working.
Being a devout Christian, he was a lifelong member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran churches.
He is survived by daughters Julie Geidel of Rapid City, SD and Cheri (Brian) Knittel of Freeman, SD; 4 grandchildren, Curtis (Christina) Schoenfelder of Bellingham, WA, Joshua Schoenfelder of Bismark, ND, Ammie (Jon) Michaels of Rapid City, SD and Michael (Lindsey Runyon) Menor of Black Hawk, SD; and 6 great grandchildren, Anneka and Lydia Schoenfelder, Jordan and Alyssa Michaels, Braeden and Braxton Menor, brother Denny (Gloria) Geidel of Mitchell SD, step-brother Duane (Janet) Weisser of Mitchell SD and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Marion Flemmer, brother-in-law Calvin Flemmer, brother Marvin Geidel and sister-in-law Mary Geidel, sister Janice Neugebauer, and step-mother Emma (Weisser) Geidel.
