Bettie Catherine Rice

Bettie Catherine Rice, of Hot Springs Village was born 12-05-1920 in Logan KS to Ernest and Catherine Wilson.  She passed away peacefully on June, 2^nd, 2016 at the age of 95 1/2.

Her family home was in Atchison, KS (the sunflower state, her second favorite flower) where two of her four children were born.  After graduating High School in 1938, she attended Cushing Memorial nursing school for two years.  She then enrolled in a local business school where she took the Civil Service examine and was chosen to work at the newly finished first wing of the Pentagon.  She gained status as a file clerk in the “top secret” area that had just opened.  After the war started she moved to Dallas, TX for a job at Lockheed helping with the war effort.  There she met and married John “Jack” Byers Rice Jr. November 27^th, 1943 carrying gardenias, her favorite flower.  After Jack’s return from serving overseas, they made their home in the Vickery section of Dallas until moving to the Lakewood section in 1956.  Jack worked in the airline insurance business while Bettie managed their home and the busy lives of their 4 children.  Upon Jack’s retirement they moved to Lake Tawakoni and built a home that was enjoyed by all especially their two grandsons.  Bettie continued her pastimes of fishing, cooking, playing bridge, knitting and entertaining friends and family.  After Jack’s passing in 2002, she moved to Hot Springs Village where she lived close and was taken care of by Carol and Robert Porter until her passing.   In 2012 she joined her daughter, Carol, in becoming a member of the Akansa Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution generously participating in the support of the Military.  She became a member of Christ Lutheran Church in HSV and volunteered for several years at the Braille workshop in that church.

You have left us with much love.  Bettie is survived by her daughters, Rev. Catherine Harrison(Shannon) of Spokane, WA; Carol Porter (Robert), Hot Springs Village, AR; and Cynthia Holland RN (Jackson), Centralia, WA; grandchildren, Erron and Daniel Porter (Angela) and Franji Holland Mayes (Justin); greatgrandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth and Jacob Daniel Porter and Riley Brian Mayes;  sisters, Aileen Bissing of Lakewood, CO and Mary (Suzie) Landau of Mullen, TX along with many nieces and nephews who affectionately called her “Greatest Aunt Bettie”.

Dear Mom, We were all privileged by the opportunity to have known and loved your heart, mind and soul.  We will not forget the legacy that you and our dad left with us through your compassion and patience.  May we grow in that spirit of loving each other.  Thank you for raising us with your quick wit and humor that is apparent in three generations, especially the “one liners”.  We thank you and dad for raising us to know God the Father, Jesus our Savior and the Holy Spirit, our comforter.  We will be forever grateful for your presence in our lives and those of the rest of your extended family and friends.

Bettie was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, husband Jack of 58 years, their son Paul Christopher Rice and her favorite brother Ernest William Wilson Jr.   The ashes of Bettie, Jack and their son Chris will be comingled and interred at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Atchison, KS.  A private service will be held at that time.

A sincere thanks to all who helped care for and see Bettie through her last years, helping to keep her at home where she loved to be.

Cremation was entrusted to CedarVale Funeral Home.