Curtis Rice

Curtis D. Rice, 88, passed away on February 26, 2014, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. Curtis was born on June 15, 1925 in Hibbing, MN. He graduated from Hibbing High School in 1943, and served in the Navy Air Corp during WWII. He was a nose gunner on a PBM Navy Patrol Bomber and saw duty in China and Pacific theaters. On September 7, 1947, Curtis was united in marriage to Rochelle Vellella at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Hibbing, MN. He worked for Pickands Mather Company as an ore grading supervisor. He was a sales representative and manager of F.H. Bathke Company and later founded Rice Industrial Supply Company. Curtis was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 8510, a member of Mesaba Lodge #255, 14 degree Scottish Rite of free masonry valley of Hibbing, and a 50 year member of 32 degree Scottish Rite of free masonry valley of Duluth. He was a member of both the Hibbing and Duluth AAD Shriners, a past member of the Elks Lodge and Rotary Club of Hibbing. Curtis was active in both Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Hibbing and The Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West, AZ. After selling Rice Industrial Supply, he and Rochelle retired in Sun City West, AZ where he enjoyed golfing each day. Survivors include his wife, Rochelle; children: Dennis Rice, Diane (Jay) Gunderson, Debra (Gary) Jensen. Grandchildren: Sheri (Jon) Cone, Jamie (Roni Lynn) Sperle, Nicole Sperle, Jessica and Jacob Gunderson, Carrie (Joel) McDonald, Melissa (Paul) Rafferty and Tina (John) Simberg; Nine great-grandchildren: Hannah and Natalie Greaves, Ryan Cone, Evelyn and Joshua Sperle, Abbey & Ayden McDonald, Anna and Cal Rafferty, Jack and Lucas Simberg. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Myrle, and daughter-in-law Nancy Rice. Funeral services will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Hibbing, MN on Tuesday, March 4th at 1:00 PM, with visitation at noon. Burial will be at a later date at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West, AZ. Memorials preferred to Multiple Sclerosis Society and Valley Memorial Home Foundation.