John Edmund Rice
The funeral service for John Rice, 92, of Hanley Falls, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls. A livestream and recording of the service will be available on the church Facebook page. Visitation will be Friday, April 22, from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Sunset Funeral Home in Echo, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment with military honors will follow at the West Yellow Medicine Lutheran Cemetery.
John Edmund Rice was born on March 5, 1930, in Sioux Agency Township near Echo, Minnesota, to Peter A. and Mabel (Hustad) Rice. He was baptized at Rock Valley Lutheran Church near Echo, MN. He began school in Echo and later moved to the Hanley Falls, MN, area. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls and graduated from Hanley Falls High School in 1948. He served his country as a Corporal for the 1st Calvary Division 7th Calvary Regiment in the Korean War from 1951 – 1953. He served in the Tank Battalion as a tank mechanic. After the service, he returned to the Hanley Falls area where he farmed until he retired in 2004. John’s bachelor years ended on September 18, 1976, at the age of 46, when he married Louise (Plaetz) Remiger at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cottonwood, MN. At that time, he became not only a husband, but also a father of nine children. Even though he had no children of his own, he was definitely a father to every one of these nine children.
John was an active member of the American Legion Anderson-Bestland Post 127 of Hanley Falls, MN, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of Granite Falls, MN, and the Sons of Norway of Granite Falls, MN. He continued to help with the farming operation for a few years after he retired. He enjoyed bowling in his earlier years, spending time at the lake, watching the ball games at the Hanley Falls ball diamond, traveling – especially to Norway, and keeping in touch with his relatives that still live there.
John passed away on April 17, 2022, at the age of 92 years and 44 days. He was able to spend his last days in his home surrounded by family and friends during a brief period on Hospice. He is survived by his wife, Louise, and nine stepchildren: Steve (Jane) Remiger of Wood Lake, MN; Margaret Remiger of Spicer, MN; Shirley Mock (Ken Oxford) of Hanley Falls, MN, Diane (Dennis) Rasmussen of Hampton, MN; Jeff (Connie) Remiger of Hanley Falls, MN; Linda (Richard) Hagen of Hanley Falls, MN; Sharon Stevens (Steve Hagen) of Hanley Falls, MN; Lisa (Clifford) Anderson of Dayton, MN, and Sue (Gene) Munsterman of Mankato, MN; 21 grandchildren; and 24 great grandchildren. John is also survived by his sister, Arlene DeBoer, of Wayzata, MN; in-laws Agnes and Stanley Eichten; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ione Bestland; brothers-in-law: Virgil “Ode” Bestland, Ernie DeBoer, Henry Plaetz, and Ray Goblirsch; sisters-in-law: Helen Plaetz and Veronica Goblirsch; nephew, Lynn Bestland, mother-in-law, Mary Plaetz, and great-grandchild, Tristan Miller.
John’s wisdom, wit, and caring nature will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Blessed be His Memory
Arrangements with
Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association
Echo, Minnesota
