Practicing Optometry Across the Black Hills and Remembering Dr. Robert Goodrich at 75
Dr. Robert Glenn Goodrich spent more than thirty years tending to the eyesight of South Dakota residents in Lead and Spearfish, building a quiet presence across the Northern Black Hills before passing away at age 75. Born in Chadron, Nebraska, on October 11, 1951, to Glenn Leroy and Vivian L. Goodrich, he died of natural causes on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at his home in Sioux Falls.
Following his graduation from Chadron Public Schools and Chadron State College, Goodrich earned his doctorate from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. That credential brought him west into the mining towns and mountain communities of South Dakota, where his career in optometry spanned three decades. He often remarked on the simple satisfaction of his work, frequently stating, “If you love your job, you never work a day in your life.”
Engaged Deeply with Civic Life in the Black Hills
Beyond his clinical practice, Goodrich engaged deeply with civic life in the Black Hills. He served as a past president of the Spearfish Lion’s Club, contributing to local initiatives that shaped public spaces in the area, including the creation of the Lion’s Park in Spearfish and the Outdoor Mining Museum in Lead. A lifelong Episcopalian, he maintained a steady connection to Christ Episcopal Church in Lead.
Away from the examination room, his time was divided between the waters of the Missouri River, the Holzwarth farm near Gettysburg for pheasant hunting, and yearly family camping trips in the Black Hills alongside the Hoffs and Vardimans. He married Janice Carol Riddle in Chadron on July 21, 1973, raising three children—Benjamin, Michael, and Rebecca.
A Legacy Defined by Family and Local Contributions
In accordance with his wishes, no formal memorial service will be held. He often remarked that such gatherings are “too darn sad.” Reflecting his characteristic pragmatic outlook on the changing seasons, he maintained that “Winter is coming. It’s a good time to get out of here.”
He is survived by his wife, Janice; his children Benjamin, Michael, and Rebecca; five granddaughters; one step-grandson; his sister, Connie Madson, alongside extended family members. Condolences may be directed to 7301 S Grand Arbor Court, Sioux Falls, SD, 57108, with family requests that donations be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
