Colene Elton Rice

ELTON RICE HAGEROTT CIEMINSKI

Posted By: Diana Diedrich (email)
Date: 11/24/2006 at 18:31:41

Colene E. Rice, 73, of Caledonia, Minnesota, died on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Merriam, Kansas. She had been staying with her daughter in a suburb of Kansas City during treatment for several medical conditions.
Colene Margaret Elton was born on December 5, 1929 in Spring Valley, MN, to Reuben and Mae Elton. She grew up in rural Canton, MN and graduated from Canton High School. She completed Normal Training at Winona State Teachers College. She taught elementary school in Caledonia and Rochester, MN, and completed her bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
While in Caledonia, she met a young pharmacist, Donald E. Rice at Abbotts Drug. Don and Colene were married in Canton Presbyterian Church on July 17, 1955 and made their home in Caledonia. Don purchased the drugstore on April 1, 1960, and Rice Pharmacy continued at the corner of Main and Kingston for over 40 years. Colene supported her husband’s efforts to serve the health needs of the Caledonia area and continued with the drugstore even after his death in 2000 until it was sold in March of 2003.
Colene had been a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church since 1955. She enjoyed Bible studies with her circle. Colene was a voracious reader. She especially enjoyed studying recipe books and financial news. In recent years, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. “Grammy” loved reading to them and just being silly with them. She and her daughter spent time together working on business matters as her health permitted.
Colene is survived by one daughter, Karen Rice Hagerott and her husband Jonathan N. Hagerott of Overland Park, KS; two grandchildren; one brother, Gerald (Myrna) Elton of Woodville, WI; one sister, Cleo (C. James) Cieminski of Aurora, CO.
Her husband of 45 years, Donald Edward Rice of Caledonia, and her parents, Reuben and Mae Elton of Harmony, MN, preceded her in death. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Caledonia, on Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Rolf Storlie officiating. Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the church. McCormick Funeral Home of Caledonia is handling arrangements.
Caledonia Argus 23 June 2003