RICE, Reithel Louise 1917 - 2016

RICE, MIKSCH, KANN, WHITT, MILLER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/19/2016 at 14:17:18

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Friday, May 13, 2016
Page 8

Reithel Louise RICE

Reithel Louise RICE, 99, of Keota, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at her home (note: in Keokuk Co., IA).

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at United Church of Faith in Keota, with the Rev. Mike Druhl officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield.

Visitation will be noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, prior to the funeral.

A memorial fund has been established for Every Nation Ministries, a missionary organization with funds going toward the support of Stephen and Kelly Spurlock, missionaries in a Myanmar refugee camp on the Thailand/Burma border. Online condolences can be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Powell Funeral Home in Keota is assisting with arrangements.

Mrs. RICE was born Jan. 18, 1917, in Fairfield, the daughter of Edward R. "Ted" and Flossie MIKSCH KANN. She married William Chester "Chet" RICE of rural Pleasant Plain June 14, 1941.

She was educated in Jefferson County schools. She graduated from Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa. She taught elementary education for several years before her marriage. During summer vacations, she worked as a waitress at resorts in Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, Lake George, New York, and Yellowstone National Park.

After their marriage, Mrs. RICE and her husband began farming in the Richland area. During World War II, they lived at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he was stationed. She worked at the PX and was a bookkeeper for the servicemen's dry cleaners.

After his time in service, the RICEs returned to farming and later relocated to the Libertyville area where they started Excel Popcorn Company, growing, processing and selling popcorn across Iowa. After retirement, they moved to Keota, where they lived for many years.

Mrs. RICE was a member of the United Methodist Church and attended United Church of Faith in Keota.

She was a homamaker and a member of various church and community organizations through the years. She was a loyal member of the Jolly Seventeens, a nationwide organization devoted solely to those born in 1917.

Mrs. RICE enjoyed reading and learning new things all her life and loved doing handicrafts, gardening, and RVing. One of her favorite accomplishments was visiting all 50 states. She also traveled to Mexico, Canada and several European countries. At age 97, she wrote a short book about her life called "Reminiscences of My Ninety-Plus Years."

Survivors include: two daughters, Marcia WHITT and husband John of Bethany, Missouri, and Patricia RICE of Coralville; one brother, Daryl KANN of Marshalltown; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; stepmother; husband; and sister Wilma KANN MILLER.

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*Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc. This material may NOT be copied and re-posted in ANY PUBLIC VENUE such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without permission from The Fairfield Ledger ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Husband William died in 2004 and is buried in Lot 3rd.177 in Evergreen Cemetery.

William Chester 'Chet' RICE's obituary - click here
 

Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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