Nov. 7, 1952-Sept. 17, 2003

MERIDIAN, Idaho – Ralph Kenelm Rice, 50, of Meridian, Idaho, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003, of cancer.

A graveside service will be held Sept. 29, at Fairview Cemetery near Weiser on the Oregon side. Disposition was by cremation.

The youngest of three boys, Mr. Rice was born Nov. 7, 1952, at Weiser, Idaho, to Glenn Franklin and Iris Clarmond Chandler Rice. He moved with his family to Hermiston in 1953 and they later moved to Nampa, Idaho. He attended schools in Idaho at Nampa, Glenns Ferry, Weiser, Boise and Pocatello.

In 1970, he joined the U.S. Navy.

In October 1970, he married Sherrie Mulligan. The couple were parents of two children, Shannon Michelle and Shawn Patrick. The marriage later ended in divorce.

Mr. Rice graduated from Boise State College in May 1980. He was employed by Boise Cable, Big “O” Tires, and Commercial Tire in Boise. In 1999, he went to work at the Home Depot in Meridian when it opened and worked there until he became ill.

On June 27, 1987, he married Susan Ann Hughes of Payette, in a garden wedding at her parents’ home in Payette. The couple were parents of two children, Nicolle Brooke, and Jacob Leo Glenn.

Mr. Rice loved camping with his family and especially enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons, Shawn and Jacob. He enjoyed gardening and working on home remodeling projects.

He coached girls softball and boys T-ball and soccer for several years at both Boise and Meridian.

Survivors include his wife, Susan, at the home; his children, Michelle Macklin of Boise, and Nicolle Rice of Meridian; Shawn Rice and his wife, Megan, of Nampa, and Jacob Rice of Meridian; his mother and stepfather, Iris and Don Putnam of Hermiston; brother, Wesley of Boise; granddaughters, Elizabeth, Theresa, Samantha, Micaela, Catilin and Emma Lee. He was preceded in death by brother, Darwin Rice, on March 23, of this year; by his father, Glenn Rice; and by his grandparents, George and Fannie Chandler and Beth Waldo and H.L. Rice.

Thomason Funeral Home of Weiser is in charge of arrangements.