Howard Rice

Howard L. Rice, age 87 of Waco, died Thursday, December 22, 2005 at Lincoln. He was born April 12, 1918 north of Waco to Charles and Delta (Inbody) Rice. Howard grew up in York and Custer counties and graduated from Sargent High School in 1936. He worked in California for a year, then spent three years in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Weeping Water. He was married to Frieda Wellensiek of Lorton, NE on January 15, 1944 at Marysville, KS. In 1940 he began his trucking career. He operated many different types of trucks, hauling materials, during the construction of the airbases at Fairmont, Ohiowa and Bruning. He worked for Bill Ludwick and then bought his first truck to haul concrete and dirt, and finally grain and livestock. In 1942 he began a 42 year business named H.L. Rice Transfer. Many cattle went to market in those years by Rice Transfer. He also owned and operated the school buses for the Waco School District for many years. Howard retired in 1981. He was an active member of the Waco United Methodist Church; he had been a 44 year member of the Waco Volunteer Fire Department, 20 year Waco Village Board member and mayor for 3 years, 30 year member York Elks, past member of the Nebraska Motor Carriers Assn. and he had been chairman of the Waco Senior Citizens. Howard is survived by his wife Frieda of York and their three daughters; Lew Jane (Vernon) Wiese of Ft. Wayne, IN, Shirley Rice of Lincoln and Phyllis (Bill) Honnor of Waco; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Wayne.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 at 10:30 am at the Metz Chapel in York with the Rev. Jeff Wulf officiating. Burial will be in the Waco Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Macular Degeneration Research or Epworth Village. Visitation will begin on Monday at noon with family greeting relatives and friends from 6-8 pm.