James C. Rice, age 81, resident of rural Edmore, ND, died Tuesday, December 30, 2008.

James Clifford Rice was born October 12, 1927 at Devils Lake, ND, the son of Cole and Nora (Hove) Rice. He was raised in the Edmore, ND area and was a 1945 graduate of Edmore High School. Jim married Dolores Elaine Stoa on October 16, 1949 at Aadalen Lutheran Church near Fairdale. They lived all of their life on the farm, where they worked together and raised their three children. Jim was very involved in the Edmore Community. He served on many boards of directors for the school, township, elevator, and Concordia Lutheran Church. He was one of the founders of the first curling club in Edmore. Jim took an active interest in curling all of his life. He also enjoyed fishing and watching the local basketball teams. Dolores died February 24, 2003. Jim continued living on the home farm that he dearly loved.

Jim will be greatly missed by his 3 children, Deborah Collen Irwin and her husband Stephen of Zionsville, IN, Thomas Lowell Rice and his wife Marta of Minneapolis, MN, and Mitchell Elliot Rice of Jamestown, ND; 3 grandchildren, Michael Lee Irwin, Rachel Colleen Irwin Beauchamp, and Janessa Nicole Rice; 3 great-grandchildren, Allison Elizabeth Irwin, Kaitlyn Lee Irwin, and Jacob Christie Beauchamp; 3 sisters, Evelyn Landsem of Edmore, Norma (James) Ivesdal of Edmore, and Beatrice (Phil) Moore of Reno, NV; a Godson, Lyle Stoa, and several other nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dolores; a sister, Clara Rice; and 2 brothers, Harvey Rice and Raymond Rice.

The Memorial Service for Jim will be held at the Concordia Lutheran Church of Edmore, ND, on Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Don Reynolds. The organist will be John Martinson with special music by Pastor Reynolds, Doug Loff, and Bryce Hoime. Interment will be in the St. Hans Lutheran Cemetery, rural Edmore.