Inez Belle Rice January 30, 1927 - August 28, 2020

Inez Belle Rice

January 30, 1927 – August 28, 2020

Inez Belle Rice passed away peacefully at home on the morning of Friday, August 28, 2020, at the age of 93.

Inez is survived by her husband, John, of Lowman, Idaho; her daughters, Florene Hancock, of Pocatello, Idaho, and Norene Rice, of Boise, Idaho; her son, Fred, and daughter-in-law, Kathy Rice, of Meridian, Idaho; eight grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Inez (“Inie”) was born on January 30, 1927, in Arbuckle, Calif., to Fred (Babe) and Florene Rice. She attended Sacramento City College in Sacramento, Calif. Upon his return from service with the U.S. Army following World War II, she married John (“Jack”) Daniel Rice on May 19, 1946, in Sacramento, Calif. They resided in Colusa, Calif., and then moved to Williams, Calif., in 1950, where they raised their family. The couple welcomed identical twin girls, Florene and Norene, in 1950 and a son, Fred, in 1956. She spent some time as a bookkeeper for Louie Cairo’s in Williams, Calif. Inie also worked for Pacific Gas and Electric, where she held many positions over the years in Williams, Marysville and Colusa, Calif., until she and Jack retired in 1982. In 1993, Jack and Inie moved to Lowman, Idaho, to enjoy their retirement in the beautiful Boise National Forest.

In her younger years, Inie loved entertaining and decorating. She hosted countless dinner parties and luncheons. She decorated and made flower arrangements for church, fire department and other community events. She was generous and had a heart for service. She actively volunteered with Eastern Star, the Williams Camellia Tea, and she assisted in Shriners fundraising efforts. She was an advisor with Rainbow for Girls and a recipient of the Grand Cross of Colors.

In retirement, Inie enjoyed traveling with Jack in their motorhome. She was a collector of things, including Liberty Bells, turtles, Native American art, jewelry and even rocks from the different places they visited together. She loved gardening and enjoyed watching the birds in her garden. She was an example of hope and strength to others as a breast cancer survivor.

Her children and grandchildren remember her as loving, nurturing, confident and playful. She often said that her “children are love and grandchildren are double-love.” Her favorite thing in the world was dancing with her husband. The couple continued to dance as often as they were able throughout their 74 years of marriage. Jack loved her beautiful radiance and always called her his “bride.” Jack and Inie’s romance was an inspiring example to their children and grandchildren of timeless and unconditional love. She loved her husband, her family and God.

Inie was devout in her faith and spent much time reading scriptures. She was a dedicated member of the Lowman Community Church. Her grandchildren often said grandma’s prayers from atop the mountain in Lowman seemed to work faster, as though she had a short-cut to Heaven’s hot-line. She will be greatly missed as she now helps the Lord answer those prayers from Heaven.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2020 from 4:00-5:30 pm at Bowman Funeral Parlor located at 10254 W. Carlton Bay Garden City, Idaho.  A private service will be held with a private family committal at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers the family is asking donation be made in Inez’s name to the American Cancer Society at  https://donate3.cancer.org, Lowman Community Church 8521 Highway 21, Lowman, ID 83637; or Shriners Hospitals for Children at https://donate.lovetotherescue.org . Condolences may be sent to the family at www.bowmanfuneral.com