Ruth Geier Rice, 88, the first woman Sheridan County commissioner and internationally known polled Hereford cattle breeder, died Friday of heart failure. She had ranched north of Sheridan since 1946.
She served two terms as county commissioner, from 1972 to 1980.
Born Dec. 8, 1900, in Creston, Iowa, to George and Ida Mae Davidson Geier, Rice moved with her family in 1902 to a Johnson County ranch that included the Fort Phil Kearny site.
She attended Kearny School, graduated from Buffalo High School, and took teachers' training at the University of Wyoming. She taught at Kearny School, then attended colleges in Virginia and Washington,
She married John E. Rice on December 19, 1928, and they ranched in the Piney Creek area. From 1932 to 1946, they built their herd of polled Hereford cattle on a ranch near Lodge Grass, Mont. They bought the Wrench Ranch north of Sheridan in 1946 and steadily enlarged the operation. After her husband's death in 1954, Mrs. Rice served as president of the family corporation. She belonged for many years to the Sheridan County CowBelles, Wyoming Stockgrowers, and Sheridan County Democratic Party,
She was known for her stories, graciousness, and knowledge of the cattle business.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Lee Rice; a son, Gary G. Rice; a stepson, John E. Rice Jr.; two sisters, Daphne A. Powers and Lois Elna Howarth; and a brother, D. Orrel Geier.
Survivors include a sister, Merle A. Howarth; a daughter, Jane Rice Woolston; a stepdaughter, Talma Rice Boyanovsky; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Rice Ranch, the Rev. Raymond Clark officiating. If weather is inclement, services will be at Champion Funeral Home.
Burial is in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Memorials may benefit donor's choice.
Sheridan Press
J.E. Rice owned the plot according to cemetery records.
She served two terms as county commissioner, from 1972 to 1980.
Born Dec. 8, 1900, in Creston, Iowa, to George and Ida Mae Davidson Geier, Rice moved with her family in 1902 to a Johnson County ranch that included the Fort Phil Kearny site.
She attended Kearny School, graduated from Buffalo High School, and took teachers' training at the University of Wyoming. She taught at Kearny School, then attended colleges in Virginia and Washington,
She married John E. Rice on December 19, 1928, and they ranched in the Piney Creek area. From 1932 to 1946, they built their herd of polled Hereford cattle on a ranch near Lodge Grass, Mont. They bought the Wrench Ranch north of Sheridan in 1946 and steadily enlarged the operation. After her husband's death in 1954, Mrs. Rice served as president of the family corporation. She belonged for many years to the Sheridan County CowBelles, Wyoming Stockgrowers, and Sheridan County Democratic Party,
She was known for her stories, graciousness, and knowledge of the cattle business.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Lee Rice; a son, Gary G. Rice; a stepson, John E. Rice Jr.; two sisters, Daphne A. Powers and Lois Elna Howarth; and a brother, D. Orrel Geier.
Survivors include a sister, Merle A. Howarth; a daughter, Jane Rice Woolston; a stepdaughter, Talma Rice Boyanovsky; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Rice Ranch, the Rev. Raymond Clark officiating. If weather is inclement, services will be at Champion Funeral Home.
Burial is in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Memorials may benefit donor's choice.
Sheridan Press
J.E. Rice owned the plot according to cemetery records.
Ruth Geier Rice, 88, the first woman Sheridan County commissioner and internationally known polled Hereford cattle breeder, died Friday of heart failure. She had ranched north of Sheridan since 1946.
She served two terms as county commissioner, from 1972 to 1980.
Born Dec. 8, 1900, in Creston, Iowa, to George and Ida Mae Davidson Geier, Rice moved with her family in 1902 to a Johnson County ranch that included the Fort Phil Kearny site.
She attended Kearny School, graduated from Buffalo High School, and took teachers' training at the University of Wyoming. She taught at Kearny School, then attended colleges in Virginia and Washington,
She married John E. Rice on December 19, 1928, and they ranched in the Piney Creek area. From 1932 to 1946, they built their herd of polled Hereford cattle on a ranch near Lodge Grass, Mont. They bought the Wrench Ranch north of Sheridan in 1946 and steadily enlarged the operation. After her husband's death in 1954, Mrs. Rice served as president of the family corporation. She belonged for many years to the Sheridan County CowBelles, Wyoming Stockgrowers, and Sheridan County Democratic Party,
She was known for her stories, graciousness, and knowledge of the cattle business.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Lee Rice; a son, Gary G. Rice; a stepson, John E. Rice Jr.; two sisters, Daphne A. Powers and Lois Elna Howarth; and a brother, D. Orrel Geier.
Survivors include a sister, Merle A. Howarth; a daughter, Jane Rice Woolston; a stepdaughter, Talma Rice Boyanovsky; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Rice Ranch, the Rev. Raymond Clark officiating. If weather is inclement, services will be at Champion Funeral Home.
Burial is in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Memorials may benefit donor's choice.
Sheridan Press
J.E. Rice owned the plot according to cemetery records.
She served two terms as county commissioner, from 1972 to 1980.
Born Dec. 8, 1900, in Creston, Iowa, to George and Ida Mae Davidson Geier, Rice moved with her family in 1902 to a Johnson County ranch that included the Fort Phil Kearny site.
She attended Kearny School, graduated from Buffalo High School, and took teachers' training at the University of Wyoming. She taught at Kearny School, then attended colleges in Virginia and Washington,
She married John E. Rice on December 19, 1928, and they ranched in the Piney Creek area. From 1932 to 1946, they built their herd of polled Hereford cattle on a ranch near Lodge Grass, Mont. They bought the Wrench Ranch north of Sheridan in 1946 and steadily enlarged the operation. After her husband's death in 1954, Mrs. Rice served as president of the family corporation. She belonged for many years to the Sheridan County CowBelles, Wyoming Stockgrowers, and Sheridan County Democratic Party,
She was known for her stories, graciousness, and knowledge of the cattle business.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Lee Rice; a son, Gary G. Rice; a stepson, John E. Rice Jr.; two sisters, Daphne A. Powers and Lois Elna Howarth; and a brother, D. Orrel Geier.
Survivors include a sister, Merle A. Howarth; a daughter, Jane Rice Woolston; a stepdaughter, Talma Rice Boyanovsky; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Rice Ranch, the Rev. Raymond Clark officiating. If weather is inclement, services will be at Champion Funeral Home.
Burial is in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Memorials may benefit donor's choice.
Sheridan Press
J.E. Rice owned the plot according to cemetery records.
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