Nancy Hester (Nicholson)

John Milton Rice was born May 4, 1941 to Tom and Fern Rice in Centralia, Washington.

Graduating from Omaha Westside High School in 1959, he then came to Sioux Falls College (now the University of Sioux Falls) as had his dad, to play football and earn his education. He was a standout football player.

Later he served as president of the Alumni Association for the school he loved, as well as being part of the steering committee to establish its first booster club. His life-long support  of USF is well-known, although he loved supporting all Sioux Falls schools. An avid sports enthusiast, John was a player, golfer, coach and booster, holding membership in all local booster clubs and the Sioux Falls Quarterback Club.

His main desire was to help people, first his family, then the many people he guided with their insurance needs through Rice Insurance Agency, which will celebrate its 50th year in 2013.

On May 3, 1975 he married Sally Frerichs Reynolds, his beloved partner.
He lived his belief that he should give back to the community he championed.

John died 21 December 2012 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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John is survived by his wife Sally, six children: Tammy Rice of Bloomington, MN; Terry (Mark) Hinders of Williamsburg, VA; Tom (Jenny) Rice of Gayville, SD; Wendy Reynolds of Sioux Falls, SD; Bill (Nikki) Reynolds of Rapid City, SD; Rebecca (Ryan) Martin of Fort Collins, CO, 13 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter, and his sister Betty (Bill) Page of Palm Bay, FL, his wifes parents, Bill and Lill Frerichs and two sisters-in-law, Vicky (Art Lyle) Spaulding and Billie (Lou) Yaeger. Grandchildren are Max and Dorothy Hinders; Meghan, Grant and Grayson Rice; Andrea and Anthony Reynolds; Steven, Mackenzie and Samantha Reynolds, and Peter, Will and Ellie Martin. Nora Anderson is his great granddaughter.

(Condensed from funeral home obit). Buried Forest Lawn Memorial Park Omaha, Douglas Co. NE. Plot Segment# G/SM, Lot# 165, Grave # 2. Memorial ID# 188638301 in Find-A-Grave.