Margaret Rice

Margaret Mae Rice, 78, Mayville, died at her home on Friday, January 12, 2024, in Mayville. Margaret was born on May 22, 1945 to Bernard Julius and Myrtle (Olson) Knudson of Clifford, ND. She graduated from Mayville High School in 1963. She married John Rice on March 1, 1969, at Norman Lutheran Church in Clifford, ND. She and John had three children, Karen, Charlotte, and Eric.

Margaret worked as a legal assistant for Gene Grindeland and the Kaldor, Vinje and Engleman law firm before becoming the library director at the Mayville Public Library in 1980. Her job at the library is where most people are familiar with her skills, rapport, and kindness. “Margee,” as many knew her, always kept up to date with which books the regular patrons liked. She held numerous engaging programs and events over the years and was a master with grant-writing to upgrade the library. In 2016 improvements were made for all windows and the front doors and

entrance, and just before she recently took time off the grant she applied for with the North Dakota Preservation Fund for roof repair and heating and cooling was finalized. At the time of this writing, the City Council accepted the matching grant for $30, 374.

Margaret lived with John in rural Mayville when they first married and at that time was active with events at Bethany Lutheran Church. Many times, she would assist with events and her sugar cookies were a fave that everyone wanted the recipe for. Although she was not an avid seamstress herself, she was very involved with her mother’s and sister’s quilting projects, helping Myrtle purchase fabric and other supplies and assisting her mom and sister, Ardis, with quilting. Many in the Knudson family have one of these beautiful quilts and Margaret was always interested in helping as much as she could. Margaret was not too keen with social media but would keep in touch with people the ‘old fashioned way’ and write letters to her family and library patrons regularly. Anyone who received cards or letters from her knows about her beautiful penmanship. She also enjoyed meeting friends and family for coffee at Paula’s Café.

She is survived by her children Karen Rice Johnson, Charlotte Rice, and Eric Rice, her grandchildren: Sarah and Emily Johnson, as well as her sister Ardis (Knudson) Haaland. Also surviving are her brothers and sisters-in-laws Calmer Rice, David and Donna Rice, Gilman and Carloyn (Rice) Knudson, Alice Rice, Brian and Susan Rice, and Glen Roberts and many nieces and nephews. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Paul and Michael, her sister Betty (Knudson) Roberts, sisters-in-law Rita (David) Rice, Verna (Calmer) Rice, Geneva (Michael) Knudson, and her husband, John. Margaret loved her job and those in the community who would come to the library. She always welcomed the patrons and was truly a natural when it came to running the library. She was also a kindhearted mother and a proud

grandmother to Karen’s daughters, Sarah and Emily, who live in California. She was a dedicated member of the community and to her family and will be missed by many.

The memorial service will be held at a later date.