James Henry Rice “Jim”, age 88, passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at the Shaunavon Hospital & Care Centre, Shaunavon, SK. Jim was born on June 22, 1926, at Moose Jaw, SK, to Milton & Margaret Rice of Galilee SK. He attended the Sugar Loaf Country School. Jim started working at an early age. At around the age of 12, he and his brothers ran a repair garage out on highway 36 by their farm. It was during this time his welding career began when neighbors were needing something welded and convinced Jim he could fix it. One spring he was hired by Continental Road Construction and worked his way up to foreman. In 1951, Jim met Dorothy Murphy, who also worked for Continental, and they were married that same year. After Tom was born, Dorothy convinced Jim that they should move to her family farm at Neville, SK. They built a house and shortly after Barb was born. They farmed as well as operated a dragline excavation business which took them to many community pastures, farms and ranches in SW Saskatchewan. Running and fixing heavy equipment was Jim’s true calling. He also loved spending winters in Arizona. They remained on the farm until recent years. Dorothy passed away in the fall of 2014, and this spring Jim moved to Avondale Place in Shaunavon. He stayed active almost right to the end, and after a brief time lost his fight with cancer. Jim is survived by his son, Tom & Jody Rice: grandson, Bryan & Pam Rice: great-grandsons, Taeghan and Declan Rice; his daughter, Barb Rice: grandson, Daniel Polloway: step-granddaughter, Sharla Smith: step-great-grandson, Keithan Smith; sisters, Peg Swanson, Helen Lebuik and Florence Wells; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy; his parents, Milton & Margaret Rice; his siblings, Chase Rice, Loy Rice, Rosalie Forest and Betty Olenburg; and by his step-grandson, Tyler Smith.
The Funeral Service was held on Saturday, May 2, 2015, at 2:00 pm from the First United Church, Swift Current, SK, with Marvin Allan officiating. The organist for the service was Joan Williamson with “Church in the Wildwood”, “Bringing in the Sheaves” and “Rock of Ages” were sung by the congregation. Honorary pallbearers were “All those who shared in Jim’s life”.The Private Interment Service was held at the Neville Cemetery, Neville, SK with Family serving as pallbearers. In memory of Jim Rice, donations made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family.Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. For further information or to leave a personal message of condolence on the family‘s obituary page, please go to swiftcurrentfuneralhome.com