True Love's Journey

TRUE LOVE’S

Journey Journey

JIM TICE

By Vanessa Carlson Bender

Before becoming a renowned jewelry artist in Western South Dakota, Jim Tice grew up in Alliance, Nebraska with a love for sports. He later played basketball in college for a few years before serving in the Navy in the 1960s. He was stationed in Key West, Florida, a “hot spot” in the aftermath of the Cuban missile crisis.

After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado with a special education degree, Jim ended up taking a job at Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle factory, where he worked for the next 14 years, eventually working his way up to manager of the rod manufacturing factory. Still, Jim wanted to do something more creative, so he worked as a traveling costume jewelry salesman for a friend, which is how he met the love of his life, Nettie. This is where his creative career truly began.

Nettie grew up in Rapid City and Hill City, South Dakota working with her parents’ business of selling handmade, authentic turquoise jewelry. After dating for a time, Jim and Nettie married in 1980 and settled on a ranch in Piedmont where they raised their two children Annie and CJ. Up until a little more than 10 years ago, Jim helped his wife’s family at their store and also had a log ﬁreplace building business, which he eventually passed down to his son-in-law Cory. He decided to take a silversmithing class in which he knew instantly he had found his passion.

“I have always loved turquoise stones and how it’s such a huge part of Native American jewelry,” says Jim. “I enjoy creating jewelry out of sterling silver and de signing it around a turquoise stone. To be able to make a piece of jewelry knowing it will be enjoyed by other people, it feels like I’m leaving a little mark on the world.”

Jim revels in the world of Native American artistry be cause of their traditions and passion that goes into their craft. He began working closely with some of the artists, designing many of the pieces they currently sell at Dakota Sky Stone in Deadwood and Wall, South Dakota. He es pecially loved traveling to the Southwestern part of the country, visiting the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and Santo Do mingo reservations where he picked out the turquoise stones to be used for pieces and worked closely along side the artists to create what he describes as “symbolic, traditional and historic pieces.”

Jim’s favorite piece he created? A cactus pendant for his granddaughter Zoe. His grandson Reeder James also loves working with his “Papa” picking out the turquoise stones. This just goes to show how important spending time with family is to him. When his own children were growing up, they helped out in the store and traveled with their parents to the reservations. Jim says at the end of the day, he wants to be remembered as a good husband, father and grandfather.

That’s what the business is all about – family. Dakota Sky Stone has been run by family for over 50 years, and they only plan on growing from there.

As for Jim, he continues to create beautiful works of art with his family with a smile on his face. Jim also looks forward to taking his camper and boat on a trip after tourist season, where he can do another thing he loves – ﬁshing.

Jim says it’s still on his bucket list to travel to New Zealand, as well as ﬁsh in Alaska where he hopes to catch a big tuna! Deadwood & Wall, SD | 605.717-0100 dakotaskystone@gmail.com