Theodore G. Rorris

Theodore G. Rorris, 92, of Sioux City, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, at Bickford Memory Care.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, with the Rev. Paul Andell officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home. Condolences can be left for the family at www.christysmith.com .
Ted was born on Jan. 22, 1925, in Roswell, N.M., to Alba (Selzer) and George Rorris. The family moved to Sioux City when he was young. He attended Sioux City schools, graduating from Central High School in 1943. Ted served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and fought in the historic Battle of the Bulge.
After the war, he returned to Sioux City, where he met his wife, Olive Hofstad. He then opened his own business, Rorris Custom Kitchens. Ted was a very talented craftsman. Ted and Olive were blessed with five children and were married for 57 years. Olive passed away in 2007.
Ted led an active life. In their younger years, Ted and Olive were members of a local dance club. He and Olive loved camping, and enjoyed taking their children, and later their grandchildren, to Cass Lake, Minn. He was an active member of the Morningside Lutheran Church, and enjoyed serving as an usher for many years. As their grandchildren grew up, Ted and Olive were kept very busy by attending the many baseball and softball games, as well as many concerts, dance recitals, and swim meets.
Ted was known for his endearing and corny sense of humor. He had a gift of always making others laugh, whether they wanted to or not.
In July 2014, Ted became a resident of Bickford Memory Care in Sioux City, and was very lovingly cared for by the entire staff, including the compassionate care provided by Care Initiative Hospice.
Ted is survived by his children, Greg (Laurie), Connie (Brent) Hansel, Mitch (Diane), Teresa (Kevin) Swaney, all of Sioux City, and Julie Gordon (Jerome Ogren) of Sioux Falls, S.D.; eight grandchildren, Kimberly, Brian, Maddison, Megan, Kelsey, Spencer, Nel, and Sophie; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Olive; and his sisters, Helen, Kay and Maxine.
In honor of Theodore, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, Bickford Cottage "Memory Care", or Care Initiatives Hospice.