Lois Jean Rice

On January 5, 2023, Lois Jean Rice died peacefully in Everett, WA at the age of 91, and is now joyfully with her Lord Jesus in Heaven.

Lois was born in Wahpeton, ND on June 12, 1931. She moved with her family to Amor (Ottertail County) MN in 1931. It was at Zion Lutheran church she placed her faith in Jesus Christ, was baptized and confirmed. Lois attended grade 1-3 at the Amor Schoolhouse and grades 4-12 in Battle Lake, MN. Her mother, sisters and Lois continued to run the family dairy farm with the help of hired hands after her father unexpectedly died of a heart attack in 1946. Lois graduated from Battle Lake High School in 1949, and Saint Cloud Teachers College in 1953. Lois taught 1st & 4th grade and music in Brainerd, MN, 1953-1955.

Lois met Morris Rice in July 1953 on a train between Minneapolis, MN and Boston, MA where they each were to attend a Luther League convention. Morris and Lois were engaged December 27, 1954, married on June 12, 1955, then moved to Anacortes, WA, where they began their life’s work and means of providing for their family. They celebrated 55 years of love, faithfulness and serving the Lord together prior to Morris’ death on July 15, 2010. They established many enduring friendships in the communities where they lived: Anacortes, Federal Way, Port Angeles, Whidbey Island and Everett, WA.

Lois and Morris have two sons, James and (Donna) Rice of Everett, WA and Jonathan and (Dianne) Rice of Camano Island, WA. She took great delight and was especially proud of her four grandchildren, Rachel and (Tom) O’Neill, Amanda and (Rob) Henry, Rebecca and (Stephen) Salmon and Aaron Rice, and four Great Grandsons, Ellis and Abner O’Neill, Jackson Henry and Amos Salmon, and anticipated her first Great Granddaughter, Madelyn Henry, born on January 13, 2023.

Lois is preceded in death by her father and mother, Claus and Ella Johnson, sister, Clarice Ohman, Nephew, Jeffrey Nelson, grandnephew, Alexander Gaston, and brothers-in-law, Norman Nelson and David Ohman. She is survived by her sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, her sister, LaVerne Nelson of Battle Lake, MN, many nieces and nephews.

A worship service giving God all glory will be celebrated Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Maple Park Lutheran Brethren Church, 17620 – 60th Ave. West, Lynnwood, WA. Interment is provided by Purdy and Walters at Floral Hills Cemetery, Lynnwood, WA. A graveside service will be held on January 28 at 10:00 a.m.

Memorials may be given to Maple Park Lutheran Brethren Church.