Arvilla (Goehring) Reich was born in Hosmer, South Dakota to Reinhold and Lydia Goehring on July 18, 1926. She had two older sisters, LuCilla and LaVerna and later three brothers, Reinhold, LeRoy and Jerald. She grew up on a farm in Delmont, South Dakota and attended high school in Armour, South Dakota.
After high school, Arvilla worked in a boarding house doing much of the cooking and cleaning. In 1950, while visiting her sister, LaVerna in Lodi, Calif. she met Roland Reich at a small family dinner hosted by Roland’s sister-in-law. Roland was working in Tracy as manager of the Safeway Grocery store and soon after Arvilla got a job in Tracy too. On June 10, 1951, Arvilla married Roland in Delmont, South Dakota and they made their home in Tracy, Ca. Over the next 6 years they had 5 children, four sons and a daughter.
Arvilla was active in the Jefferson school PTA serving as president and chairperson of the annual Halloween Carnival. She also served as a Cub Scout Den mother, 4H cooking instructor, and Sunday school teacher. She was a Deacon and Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Tracy and also served a term as President of the American Legion Auxiliary. At the end of every school year while the children were attending Jefferson School, Arvilla and Roland would host a dinner in their home for all of the children’s teachers and administrators from Jefferson School as a way of thanking them.
When Laura Scudders opened their processing plant, Arvilla was one of the earliest employees. She would work swing shifts during the week while Roland worked mornings in the grocery store and later the creamery. In 1970, she and Roland bought Mowry’s Grocery across from Jefferson School and renamed it Reich’s Grocery. Arvilla ran the store during the week while Roland worked at Tracy Defense Depot. All of their children were taught the value and responsibility of working together in the grocery store. In 1980, they purchased the equipment and furnishings of the closed restaurant next to the grocery store and started 4 Corners Restaurant. Their son David and his wife Patricia took over running the grocery store and Arvilla and daughter Barbara opened the restaurant. Arvilla enjoyed cooking German dishes at the restaurant and making desserts. Barbara eventually left the restaurant and son Gary, the current owner, was asked to help. Arvilla continued working at the restaurant baking carrot and chocolate cakes, cheese cakes and pies until well into her 80’s. Several of her grandchildren worked with her in the restaurant. For over 30 years she enjoyed meeting and greeting many of the restaurant’s guests.
In 1967, Arvilla was recognized as Tracy’s “Mother of the Year” by the Tracy Aerie of the Eagles and Auxiliary, a local fraternal organization. In 1990, the couple was recognized as Tracy’s “Family of the Year” by the Church of Latter Day Saints in Tracy. Arvilla loved to make quilts and often joined with others to sew. She sewed a special quilt for each of her children and their spouses and eventually a quilt for each of her ten grandchildren.
Arvilla was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Roland Reich, her two sisters Lucilla Dewald and LaVerna Simpfenderfer, two of her brothers Reinhold Goehring and Leroy Goehring , and a granddaughter, Vanessa Reich.
She is survived by her children Ronald (Marjie) Reich of Tracy, Harold (Cathie) Reich of Tracy, Gary (Donna) Reich of Tracy, David (Patricia) Reich of Cody, Wyoming, and Barbara (Bryn) Borras of Tracy. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Laura (Brent) Riddle, Nathan (Liana) Reich, Christina (Lee) O’Neil, Namen Borras, Adam (Ashleigh) Reich, Janae (Borras) Taylor, Matthew (Andrea) Reich, Katie (Jack) Rayl, Shelby Reich and Samantha Reich.
She has 16 great-grandchildren: Danielle, Hannah, Ben, Aubree and Charlotte Riddle, Colby and Emma O’Neil, Adam,Jr and Allison Reich, Hailey Reich, Trenton, Collin and Angelina Reich, Conner Borras, Logan and Ethan Taylor.
She is also survived by her brother Jerald (Donna) Goehring, a sister-in-law, Carol (Reinhold) Goehring, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Fry Memorial Chapel, 550 South Central Avenue, is honored to serve the Reich Family. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 20th from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be private. She will be laid to rest at Tracy Public Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you donate to the First Presbyterian Church of Tracy’s local mission fund, 101 Berverdor Ave, Tracy, Ca. or your favorite charity.
An online guest book is available for condolences and special messages to the family at www.frymemorialchapel.com
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