Charles A. Rice

Charles A. Rice, age 63, passed away on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, at the family home, west of Glasgow, Mont., from complications of diabetes and heart disease.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 23, with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. at the Bell Mortuary in Glasgow. Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m., at the Bell Mortuary in Glasgow, followed by burial at the Highland Cemetery. A reception will be held following burial at 2:30 p.m. at the Glasgow Elks Lodge.

He was born on Sept. 21, 1953, in Glasgow, to Thomas R. and Lucile P. Rice. He lived his life in the Glasgow area, and graduated from Glasgow High School in 1971.

After completing high school, he attended Northern Montana College in Havre, graduating in June of 1977 with a bachelors degree in elementary education. Upon his completion of higher education schooling, he student taught in the Irle School in Glasgow, and became a full-time elementary teacher at the Northstar Elementary School, at the Glasgow Air Force Base and at the Glasgow School District, especially at the Eastside School and Southside School for 22 years. He and his father, Thomas, ran the family farm at the same time as Charles teaching career. Mr. Rice, as he was fondly known by his students, retired from teaching in 2002. He then spent his time running the family farm and taking care of his aging parents until their passing.

He was well liked by his students and the teaching staff. He had a caring way for students needing extra attention and was always kind-hearted and patient with helping them learn their studies. He helped many students in the fifth and sixth grades pass the grade successfully. He enjoyed the teaching aspect of the job and his students' antics. He relished the teacher get-togethers for the many scheduled potlucks. He had a patient, loving heart and was generous with teaching people many things outside of school. He was a faithful son, devoted brother, fantastic friend with a mischievous nature and terrible teaser who could pester you unrelentingly. He will be sorely missed by all the family and friends that he has left behind.

Survivors include a brother, Richard Rice, and his wife, Darlene, of E. Wenatchee, Wash .; niece, Dawn Goins and her husband, Rick, and their children, Kelcey (son, Alex), Shay, Brooke, Gabby and Gabe of Spokane, Wash .; niece Kris Sanders and her husband, Craig, and children Christopher and his wife, Charli, and their son, Matthew, Kelsey and her husband, Gabe, and their children, Brittney and Ashley, of Colbert, Wash .; nephew Robert Rice and his wife, Margie, and their children, Jasmine, Chelsea and Kaylee of Quincy, Wash .; a sister, Cherie' Lowry and her husband, Michael, of Palmer, Alaska; step-children, Michele Jensen and her husband, Joe, and their children Dariane and Natasha, of Pasco, Wash., Darren Lowry and his daughter, Riley Morten-Lowry, of Alaska; and the many friends, family and acquaintances that he has burned favorite memories into their hearts.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Valley County Historical Society in Charles name.