Kathryn Irene (Wise) Rice was born on May 22nd, 1940, in Lusk, Wyoming, and passed away peacefully in her Tularosa, New Mexico home on Friday, April 18, 2025.  She graduated from Riverton High School in 1958, having been strong not only in academics, but also in her creativity and personality which was loved by both classmates and teachers.  Kathryn married Bob Rice December 21, 1961, and was happily married to him until his passing in 2016.

Kathryn excelled at everything she did.  She was not only an accountant for many years but also worked with her husband applying drywall texture on his jobs.  Her creativity resulted in many projects. She made drawings for her high school yearbooks, was a master seamstress (making wedding dresses, building and upholstering furniture, creating beautiful quilts) and was also an excellent writer of short stories and poems.  She won prizes in both bowling and golf and enjoyed both sports with Bob on teams and individually.   With a sense of humor surpassing most others, Kathryn gave the joy of laughter to many throughout her lifetime.

 Kathryn will always be remembered by all who knew her as a woman who loved Jesus and lived her life to glorify Him.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Rice; parents, Walter Sherman Wise and Blanche Kathryn Wise; siblings, Bernice Hardman, Ray Moore, Bob Moore, Margueritte Walters, Caroline Spargur, Howard Wise, Nellie Barrows, and Barbara Hyatt; stepson, Robert Wrex Rice; and grandson, Jacob Coates. 

She is survived by her children, Margo Lytle, Terry Rice, Larry Rice, Connie Coates, Kathy Fitterling, and Melinda Casares; multiple grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Celebration of Life will be held at the Alamogordo Seventh-Day Adventist Church May 4th, 2025 at 11:00 am.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Canyon Christian Academy at this address:   P.O. Box 511,  Alamogordo, New Mexico  88311.

The family has entrusted their loved one to the care of PCS Direct Cremation Service.