Bettye J. Rice, 71

Bettye J. Rice, 69, died Oct. 26, 2009.

Bettye Jean (Priest) Rice was born Sept. 30, 1940 in Omaha, Neb. Bettye was the daughter of Dale and Mildred (Reynolds) Priest in Omaha, and was raised in Shenandoah, graduating in 1958.

Bettye attended Dubuque University. Bettye later attended and graduated from the Thompson Beauty School in Des Moines. Following her graduation, she was a beautician at a beauty salon in Boone and several years later at a beauty salon in Shenandoah.

Bettye married Steve Rice Aug. 25, 1962 in Shenandoah at the Presbyterian Church.

Bettye was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and she was a Cub Scout Leader.

Bettye was preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Mildred Priest of Shenandoah and son Raye Rice of Boston.

Bettye is survived by her husband, Steve Rice; her children, Patrick (Laura) Rice of Johnston, Michelle (Bill Miller) Rice of Altoona; four grandchildren; sister, Barbara (Dwight) Crawford of Shenandoah.

Services were held Oct. 30 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell.

Memorials may be sent to the Bettye J. Rice Memorial Foundation at the Grinnell Regional Hospice in Grinnell.