Keith County, NEGenWeb

Rice Family Obituaries

Provided by Lexi Romero



[Submitter's Notes: The Rices were in the Perkins County area ...located close to the Keith County line and often did business in Ogallala. Another part of this family that homesteaded in this area of Perkins county was the Wilsons whose daughter married the Rice's son.]




Nathaniel N. Rice
Keith County News

Nathaniel N. Rice was born in Northumberland, Saratoga County, New York state, March 21, 1830. He died in the Soldiers Home at Grand Island, Neb. Feb. 10, 1906. He was laid to rest in the Ogallala cemetery, beside his wife who died Oct. 7th, 1901. Had he live until the 21st of next month he would have been 76 years of age. He was the fourth in a family of sixteen and the last of the family to pass away.

Mr. Rice was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Ketcham; Feb. 13, 1853. To this union were born twelve children, seven girls and five boys. All the boys and two of the girls are left to remember the good deeds of a father who served well his time on earth.

Mr. Rice enlisted with the 77th New York Infantry and served about three years in the Civil war. He moved with his family, from New York state to Columbus, Neb. in 1879 and from there to Perkins county, Neb., in 1889. From that date up to a year ago, he has lived in this part of the state, passing thro' sunshine and shadow, hopes and fears, rain and drought. He has seen crops spring up and vanish, but he has passed to where failure is not known.





Elizabeth Rice
Keith County News

Death of an Aged Lady
Rice-- At her resedence in Perkins county, October 7, 1900, Mrs. Elizabeth Rice, aged 69 years.

Death was the result of bowel diffculty and came suddenly. Mrs. Rice was born and raised in New York and came to her present place of residence about ten years ago and has resided there continuously ever since. She was a life long member of the M. E. Church, a loving wife and a tender mother. She leaves a husband, four sons and three daughters to morn her loss. By her own request she was buried near her own home, she and her husband having agreed that neither should be taken from the farm until both were laid together in the same resting place. Her death was peaceful, and although her friends mourn a noble woman they have much to comfort them. She directed the burial arrangements herself and died in accordance with the Christian life she had lived.





Leland B. Rice
Keith County News

Leland B. Rice, 74, Here Past 50 Years, Passes Away Sunday

Leland B. Rice, 74, a resident of this community for more than 50 years, passed away at the Lewellen hospital Sunday evening. Mr Rice had been in poor health for serveral years, and had been a hospital patient for 10 days. His death occurred on his 49th wedding anniversary.

Funeral service was held this afternoon from the Ogallala Methodist church. Rev. Edward Friesen, pastor of Assembly of God church, officiated.

Serving as pallbearers were, Walter Helmer, Robert Miller, Joe Daniel, Harve Caudy, Clint Packard and Tom Plummer.

Surviving are his widow, two daughters and four sons. Mrs. Pernesa Matthews of Cheyenne, Mrs. Elsie DeFord of Ogallala, Albert and Raymond of Richfield, Wash. Pvt. Fred Rice, McCord Field, Wash. and George of Ogallala.

Interment in the Ogallala cemetery under the direction of Stone's Funeral Home.





Clare Rice
Keith County News

Leland Clare Rice, aged 11 yrs. and 27 days, was born in Perkins Co., Nebr. May 8th, 1904. He moved with his parents to Arthur Co., Nebr., in June, 1907, where he has lived since until his death June 5th, 1915 at 2:20 a.m. caused by typhoid fever, culminating in heart failure.

He was a good bright industrious boy, always at the head of his class in school, and beloved by all his associates.

Clare leaves to mourn his loss, a mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Leland B. Rice of Glenrose Nebr., two sisters, Pernesa and Elsie; and 5 brothers, Albert, Raymond, Gordon, Fred and George, also of Glenrose.

The neighbors, relatives, and numerous friends, extend their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family in giving Clare back to his Maker, who doeth all things well.




[Submitter's Notes: Leland B. Rice met and married Stella Alena Wilson in the Perkin's County area, just south of Ogallala were both had been raised by homesteaders in that area. Their first child Pernisa Elizabeth Rice (my grandmother) was born in Perkins county and shortly after the couple relocated their small family in the Sand hills just north of Keystone, Nebr where they had a sod house. Here they had nine children losing one at the age of 12. The couple were very active in community developement in the area in which they lived.

In the early 1900 they donated the land and helped to build RR School #55, fondly remember as The Rice School. Leland, Edwin Matthews served on the board for that school. The Rice house also served as a stop-over place for those traveling from Arthur to Ogallala. Leland was fondly know by Lee Rice and today the wood frame house that he and his wife built to replace their sod home still stands (abandoned) and is still known by Lee Rice house. The school was moved on the Peterson Ranch and still stands there.]



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