Kenneth Merl "Ken" Rice

KENNETH MERL "KEN" RICE Funeral services for Cortez resident Kenneth Merl "Ken" Rice will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 17 at the Cortez First United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Pastor Will Morris will officiate. Visitation has been scheduled for Sunday evening from 5 to 6 p.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Ken was born July 29, 1921 in Havre, Mont. the son of George and Bertha Rice. He passed away on Thursday, August 13 at Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 94. Ken attended and graduated high school in Havre, Mont. On July 14, 1944, he married Lydia Dusek in Havre. Ken worked for Farmer's Union Insurance and went on to start his own real estate agency. He retired in 1992-1993 and moved to Cortez. Ken never missed a Wednesday round of Bridge at the Senior Center. He also enjoyed playing Cribbage and Pinochle. Ken liked to spend time reading, repairing old furniture and researching properties. Surviving Ken are his children, Carolyn Young and husband, Greg of Centennial, Colo., Lyle Rice of Cahone, Colo., Linda Wagner and husband, Don of Whitehall, Mont., and Ed Rice and wife, Robin of Dolores; and by his 11 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Ken was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife, Lydia Rice; and by his siblings, Alice Anderson, Georgia McIntyre, Don Rice and Lenore Rice. Memorial contributions may be made in Ken Rice's name to the Cortez First United Methodist Church or to the Shriners Hospital for Children.