Norma “Jean” Rice
Norma “Jean” Rice
Norma “Jean” Rice
September 30, 1936 – November 3, 2022
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 86
Norma “Jean” Rice, age 86, of Oskaloosa, died on November 3, 2022, at the MHP Serenity Hospice House in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was born on Wednesday, September 30, 1936, in Mahaska County, Iowa, the daughter of Roland George and Eva Fern Lundy Moody.
After school, Jean was united in marriage to Milo J. Rice on August 1, 1953. To this union 2 children were born, Eva Louise Rice and Bryan Lee Rice. Milo died on January 16, 2015.
Once the children were born, Jean stayed home to care for her family and home. They moved off the farm and together they owned and operated Rice Plumbing and Heating in Kellogg, Iowa, for several years. Jean also helped elderly women with housework. They sold the heating and air business and moved to Oskaloosa and opened the Oskaloosa Motel. After they sold the motel she worked at Wal-Mart as a cashier and retired in 2001 to care for Milo.
Jean enjoyed quilting and was a member of several quilting guilds, including Mahaska County Quilt Guild, Mahaska County Stitch ‘n’ Quilt Guild and Albia Crazy Quilters. She also enjoyed reading and liked to debate over principals. She was a dedicated volunteer at the Oskaloosa Senior Citizen Center.
Her family includes her two children, Eva (& Dean) Miller of Newton, Iowa and Bryan (& Louann) Rice of Galesburg, Illinois; four grandchildren: Matthew (& Jennifer) Rice, Shannon Rice (& Carmen Pacheco), Jeanann (& Andy) Hamm and Sherry (& Alan Altemeier) Lambertus; eleven great grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren; a sister, Marilyn Kay Moody; and a brother, Delbert Dale (& Judy) Moody. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Milo J. Rice; her parents; three sisters, Janice Louise Moody, Velma June “Peggy” Jones and Mildred Marie Wilson; and three brothers: Roland Edwin “Bud” Moody, Robert Lavern Moody and Marvin Moody.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 7, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel with Reverend Molly Goodrich officiating.
Burial will be in the Bellefountaine Cemetery in Tracy, Iowa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Monday, November 7, at 9:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel with the family present to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to the MHP Serenity Hospice House.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Norma “Jean” Rice please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.
