Thelma L. Rice, of Boone, Iowa, formerly of Jefferson, Iowa
Born: October 4, 1908
Died: February 2, 2004
Age: 95
Services: 11:00 am Saturday February 7, 2004 at the First Presbyterian Church, Grand Junction, Iowa.
Interment: Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Panora, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 9:00am-9:00pm on Friday February 6, 2004 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home, Jefferson. The family will be present at the funeral home in Jefferson to greet friends between 6:00-8:00pm Friday, with a Prayer Service being held at 7:00pm Friday.

Memorials are suggested to Evangelical Free Church Home, Boone, Iowa.

Thelma Lola Rice was born October 4, 1908 at Yale, Iowa. She was the daughter of William Gander and Theresa Barthalow Gander.

Thelma graduated from Panora High School in 1927. She received Normal Training and taught in rural school Victory Township #1 for a short time.

On October 20, 1928, Thelma married Ralph Rice at Jefferson, Iowa. The couple lived south of Jamaica until 1936 when they moved southwest of Bagley, Iowa and lived and farmed there for 20 years. They bought a farm in Richland County, North Dakota in December 1956 and enjoyed farming there for many years. Ralph died in North Dakota in 1981. Thelma sold the farm in April 1985 and returned to Iowa to live in Jefferson.

Thelma was a member of the Yale Christian Church, and then the Antelope United Methodist Church near Barney, North Dakota.

Thelma enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, and playing cards. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren.

Thelma made comforters for all her children and grandchildren. She made lap robes and pillows for nursing homes, and even continued to do this when she was in the Evangelical Free Church Home in Boone.

Thelma Rice died February 2, 2004 at the Evangelical Free Church Home in Boone. She was 95 years of age. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband; 4 brothers: Homer Gander, Carroll Gander; Kenneth Gander and Charles Gander; 1 daughter, Wilma Jean Rice; one son: Larry Rice; 1 infant grandson, Steven Evelsizer; and son-in-law, George Booth.

Survivors include 3 daughters: Lola Booth of Jefferson, IA; Mary Evelsizer and her husband Jerry of Ogden, IA; Joyce Hassing and her husband Edward of Randall, MN; daughter-in-law Mary Rice of Tripoli, IA; 9 grandchildren; 6 step-grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 9 step-great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; 1 step-great-great-grandchild; a sister-in-law Gladys Rice; other relatives and friends.