Rice, Amanda Virginia 1849-1922

RICE

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/16/2012 at 13:43:12

AMANDA VIRGINIA RICE

The funeral of Mrs. Amanda Rice was held in the Methodist church of Whiting last Saturday afternoon, conducted by her former pastor, Rev. Geo. W. Dunn, now pastor of the M. E. church at Mapleton, assisted by Rev. C. R. Yeager, pastor of the Whiting church. Mrs. Rice was one of the earliest settlers in this community, having come here with her husband to make their home on a farm before there was a town of Whiting. Although well along in years, she has been able, and it was her pleasure to do considerable work around her home, and she was down town looking after some business matters just a week before the last illness, death resulting within a few days from the time she contracted pneumonia. A large congregation of friends of the family and relatives were present at the church to pay a last tribute of respect to the departed, and to hear the glowing tribute paid to Mrs. Rice by Rev. Dunn. He stated that her loyal unswerving devotion to Christian principles had not only beautified her own life, but that of many others with whom she came in contact. His text was taken from a passage of scripture which was always a favorite with Mrs. Rice--”Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me,” and he stated that in all her life she had been able to lean on those comforting words, and to be strengthened by them. Special music for the funeral was rendered by a quartette composed of Mrs. J. W. Beggs, Mrs. A. E. Kratz, Mrs. Lila Hanson and Miss Gladys Bucklin, accompanied by Mrs. Ora Spaid at the piano. The remains were laid to rest in the family plot of the Onawa cemetery. The complete obituary is as follows:

Amanda Virginia Rice was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, May 22, 1849; died at her home in Whiting, Iowa, October 31, 1922, aged 73 years, 5 months, and 9 days. She was married to Martin Luther Rice at DeWitt, Iowa, February 17, 1869, and they came to Monona county that same year, settling on a farm southeast of the present town of Whiting. In the fall of 1887, they moved to Whiting, where the husband preceded her in death on May 24, 1899.

The following children were born to this union: John J. Rice, Davenport, Iowa; Mary E. Timm, Parma, Idaho; Nettie J. Smith, Grand Mound, Iowa; George A. Rice, Whiting; Nellie E. Lane, Kansas City, Mo.; Cornelius M. Rice, Omaha, Neb.; Isaac F. Rice, Whiting; Ida May Gregg, Macy, Neb.; Roy E. Rice, Omaha, Neb. Two children died in infancy. All but one of the children living were present at her bedside at the time of death. Besides the children, there are seventeen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Other relatives from a distance who were present at the funeral were: a sister, Mrs. Matt High and her husband from Emmetsburg, Iowa; sister-in-law, Mrs. Frank Smith of Sioux City; and a niece, Mrs. George Brown, of Sioux City.

Source: Local Onawa newspaper, dated November 1922