Janice Marie Rabbitt

Janice Marie Rabbitt, 81, of Jefferson, SD passed away on Monday, May 27, 2019 at a Sioux City hospital. 

Funeral services will be at 11:30am Friday at Morningside Lutheran Church. Visitation with the family present will be from 6:00-8:00pm on Thursday with a prayer service at 7pm at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com

Janice was born August 2, 1937 in Sioux City, Iowa to Arthur and Violet (Lund) Rysta. Janice grew up in Sioux City where she graduated from East High School then moved to Sioux Falls, SD where she attended and graduated from Augustana College with her teaching degree.

On June 6, 1959, Janice married Michael “Dale” Rabbitt in Sioux City. They raised two boys, Dan and Jeff, together. They spent many hours at horse shows and the race track with their boys (both horse and car tracks). Janice had a very green thumb and was able to make any plant or flower flourish, she was very proud of her flower beds and vegetable garden. She hardly ever missed an event that her grandchildren were participating in as well. Dale and Janice enjoyed many activities together but their favorite dates were held on the dance floor square dancing. Dale and Janice spent 56 years together before Dale passed away on June 10, 2015. Janice then spent the next 4 years living with her sister Ruth. Family was always Janice’s number one priority and she made sure everyone knew how proud she was of each and every one of her kiddos.

Janice taught elementary school in the Sioux City Community School District for 10 years. She then transitioned over to Interbake Foods where she was a line lead for 20 years before retiring to join the family business Outpost Optical (now known as Rabbitt Family Vision Center). While Janice’s father was ill she took care of him making sure that he never ate dinner alone. She was also a longtime member of Morningside Lutheran Church and involved in many of the activities. 

Survivors include her two sons: Dr. Dan Rabbitt (Angie) of Jefferson, SD and Jeff Rabbitt (Lori) of North Sioux City, SD; her sister Ruth Rysta of Sioux City, IA; her brother in law Don Rabbitt (Janet) of Fond du Lac, WI; her four grandchildren: Brittney, Brandon, Rystan and Kayah; her great grandson Makai.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dale, her brothers Orville and Richard and one sister Carolyn.