Frances Grace Rice, 97, of Ord formerly of North Loup passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2018, at her home in the Grandview Assisted Living Center in Ord.
Mrs. Rice’s wishes were to be cremated. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at the Seventh Day Baptist Church in North Loup. Pastor Scott Hausrath will officiate. Inurnment will be in the Hillside Cemetery at North Loup. Memorials are suggested to the Family’s Choice. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Frances Grace Rice was born October 26, 1921, north of North Loup, Nebraska to Burt and Estella (Fuller) Williams. At the age of 5, the family moved 8 miles south of North Loup where she was raised and attended Pleasant Hill District #43 School then graduated from North Loup High School in 1940. She was baptized in the Seventh Day Baptist Church in December of 1939.
On September 3, 1941, Grace was united in marriage to Harwood L. Rice at North Loup, Nebraska. Grace worked as a clerk in the Farmer Store in North Loup for 12 years. For the next 20 years she worked part-time in the North Loup School Cafeteria, retiring at the age of 75.
Grace enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, fishing and camping; and was a Den Mother for the North Loup Boy Scouts. During the winter months she liked to crochet. Her special joys were her 5 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Darla Rice of North Loup and Larry and Dwana Rice of Grand Island; five grandchildren and spouses, Troy Rice, Trudy and Matt Smith, Tracy and Jim Meister, Joi and Randy Dickey and Jodi Lang and fiancé, Kyle Christensen; seven great-grandchildren; Brittney and husband, Jeff Wilson, Joseph and Jacob Meister, Hannah Rice, Zachary Pistulka, Masin Lang and Charlie Christensen; and her first expectant great-great-grandchild due in May.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harwood who passed away on June 24, 2009; three sisters, seven brothers, Harold, Elwyn, Lester, H.A. “Tex”, Vernon, Udell “Bud”, and Carol Williams; and three sisters, Ella Davis, Audrey Bunce, Delpha Smith.
