Written by Vern Rice
Winston Calvin Rice, 88, passed away at home in Broadus, MT on Monday, December 26, 2016.
Calvin was born to Asa L. Rice and Anna Witherspoon Rice on April 20, 1928 in Broadus, MT as the first born son. Two brothers would soon join him, second son Nathan, and third son Freedus. They all lived and survived the great depression on the homestead south of Epsie on the head of Rough Creek. He attended Kelly School until the 8th grade, then was handed the duty of trying to take care of the ranch when his mother was stricken with Parkinson’s disease and while granddad worked away a lot doing carpentry work to pay the bills and save the ranch. Calvin took care of the ranch and farm and his two siblings. Dad was fairly mechanical and fixed granddad’s machinery and his old Model-T Ford. Time went by and dad and Everett Burly went together and bought an old Aeronca Chief airplane. Dad would fly over and visit the Woods girl at their ranch near Stacey. On September 15, 1955, he married Signa Woods. And to this union Allen Rice was born in 1957, and Vernon in 1958. Dad had to sell the plane due to lack of funds.
In 1965 he attended training courses at the Madison, Wisconsin College getting his GED, and finished a course which enabled him to become the director of the O.E.O office, which then evolved into Action for Eastern Montana. Wages from this helped buy machinery and kept the ranch afloat. This job lasted five years. He welded for a year, then drove logging truck for a year all while ranching on weekends. He then sold Texas Refinery products and started a roofing business to apply their products, all to supplement the ranch income. Other highlights in his life were playing in a band with the Burley Boys and playing music with anyone he could throughout the rest of his life. He handed that down to his sons and inspired some of the grandkids. He and mom square danced for a while and reading was his favorite pastime. Due to health reasons, he moved to town three years ago.
Calvin is survived by his wife Signa, sons Allen Rice, Vernon (Andrea) Rice, grandsons Calvin Lee (Deanne) Rice, Levi Rice, Ricky Olson Rice, Leonard Rice, granddaughter Chrissy Rice, and one great-grandson Dominic Rice, brother Freedus Rice, sister-in-law Janet Rice and her children Rick Rice and Kathy (Tony) Pomeroy, great-nephew Logan Pomeroy, brother-in-law Bert (Helen) Woods and children Laiben, Wade, Denver, O.C and Rosie, stepsisters; Lois Cullipher and Emma Crawford, cousins in law; Ken (Julie) Gress, Clint (Paula) Gress and Lee Gress, cousin; Johanne VanAlta.
He was preceded in death by his parents Asa and Anna, Brother Nathan, father and mother-in-law Oscar and Elvy Woods.
If anyone desires, donations may be made to the Eastern Montana Industries (E.M.I.). 805 S. Haynes, Miles City, MT. 59301
Funeral Services will be held Friday, January 6th at 1:00 PM at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Broadus, MT with a visitation from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery in Broadus. Stevenson & Sons funeral Home of Broadus is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Visitation
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Friday January 6, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
101 E. Wilson
Broadus, MT
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Friday January 6, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
101 E. Wilson
Broadus, MT
Service Schedule
Visitation
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Friday January 6, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
101 E. Wilson
Broadus, MT
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Friday January 6, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
101 E. Wilson
Broadus, MT
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Julie Gatlin and Kenny Gress says
So sorry to hear of Calvin’s passing. Sending thoughts and prayers to Signa and family.
Pat Jones says
So sorry to hear of your loss,prayers to you and family.
tammy & john schoenbeck says
so sorry for your loss
Phyllis Wilson says
Phyllis Wilson says sorry to hear of Calvin passing. I remember of some times when we got together and listened to some good country music and he played some good guitar. Then a good time when he was among the musicians at our chivare dance here at the . He might have helped put the rocking chair up on the roof! He was a good neighbor and a friend
SALLY A. BORLA says
SO SAD TO HEAR THIS; I JUST RECENTLY HELPED HIM PICK OUT SOME CLOTHING ITEMS AT ST. V.–HE WAS A VERY NICE MAN AND WILL BE MISSED–HE WAS A GENTLEMAN AND ALWAYS KIND. GOD BLESS HIS FAMILY ESP. VERN AND ANDREA.
Audrey Snodgrass & Shane Wheeler says
I am so sorry to hear about Calvin. Your family are in our prayers.
Carol Schneidt says
My thoughts and prayers are with the Rice family.
Brad and Carmen Knutson says
Hugs to all of the Rice Family, so very sorry to hear of your loss. Take care of each other and treasure your memories!
pam nisley says
We care of your loss, our prayers for comfort in the days ahead are with you!
Sincerely, Pam & Dave
Jeanne Sparks says
Calvin was a good friend and a good man, a self educated walking history book. He will be missed. Rest in peace, my friend.
Jeanne Sparks
Grant and Mary Olson and family says
So sorry to hear of your loss .All of you are in our thoughts and Prayers .
lucille ottesen says
sorry to hear of your loss. know it is more painful at Christmas.
Dan & Sheri Gali says
So sorry to hear of our long time neighbor Calvin’s passing. He was a great person and will be greatly missed ! Hugs to the family !
Stephanie Roberts says
Sorry for your loss. He was a very nice man. Prayers for Signa and his family.
Stetson says
Calvin was an amazing man! He was introduced to everyone on the Powder River Cattle Drive as the man who would forget more about the region than most folks will ever know. Please let his family know how many lives he touched, and how his presence represented Montana, and even humanity – with integrity, courage, and purity. May he rest in peace on the big ranch in the Big Sky of Montana! LOVE&HUGS, Stetson
Laura Lee Ullrich says
So sorry to hear of Calvin’s passing. Our community has lost an amazing historian and story teller. His knowledge was amazing and his way of sharing it was so honest and true. He will be missed by so many. Our prayers to his family.
Skin and Betty Collins says
So sorry about Calvin’s passing. Sending prayers and hugs to the Rice families. We have lots of good memories of him through the years. Rest in Peace now Calvin for your earthly chores are done.
Julie Emmons says
Condolences to the family….so sorry to hear of your loss.
Kenny and Kelly Babb says
Sorry for the loss of your husband, dad, and grandfather. We are lifting your family in prayer.
David & Dana Bell says
Our heartfelt condolences to the Rice family in their loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you.
Peter & Regina Stolle says
So sorry to hear about Calvin’s passing. He knew so much about the history of this area and was so nice to share his knowledge with us at several Powder River Wagon Trains and Cattle Drives. He will be missed
Pat Smith says
Signa, Vern & Andy & Allen & families; Sorry for your loss. Calvin was a nice person. He played music with others many times at the Sonnette Hall. It was he and Nathan who fixed the halls roof there by saving the hall for many years to come.
June & Pete Minow says
Signa and family, We are so sorry about Calvin’s passing. We always enjoyed visiting with him whenever we saw him. You are in our prayers and we ask God to comfort you in the days ahead.
Cody Morris says
Signa, Vern, and family,
I am truly sorry for your loss! So sorry to have missed the funeral! I appreciated Calvin’s knowledge of history and music. Even got to play music with him a time or two on Powder River Wagon Train & Cattle Driv. He was so good about sharing things with me that he had read concerning MS, always in an effort to help. He was a good man, and I always liked visiting with him. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.