Dennis Ray Rice, 76, passed away December 21, 2022. He was born April 23, 1946, in Hutchinson, to C. Ray and Frances (Metcalf) Rice.
Dennis graduated from Nickerson High School in 1964. He then attended Hutchinson Community Junior College and Fort Hays State University. Dennis served in the Army Reserves from 1967 to 1973 in the 346th MP unit.
On June 21, 1969, he married Karen K. Hoefer, in Hutchinson. Dennis and Karen owned and operated the Li'l Nick Carry Out in Nickerson from 1980 to 1988.
He was a former deacon and longtime member of the Eastwood Church of Christ.
Most of Dennis' career was spent in sales, working several years for Western Auto in Hutchinson. Later, he became a sales representative for various furniture and appliance distributing companies out of Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Wichita. The past 20 years, Dennis was self-employed, setting up furniture dealer bases for furniture distributing companies out of Tupelo, MS. His dealer territory included all of Kansas, Oklahoma, and part of Missouri. Dennis retired May, 2021.
He is survived by: his wife of over 53 years, Karen of Nickerson; two sons, Britt Rice (Jesica) of Hutchinson and Chad Rice of Valley Center; grandsons, Hunter Rice (Tatum), Wyatt Rice, both of Nickerson, Hank Rice and Cal Rice, both of Valley Center; four step-grandchildren, Walker Schrag (Mackenzie) of Derby, Pearson Schrag (Taylor), Carter Schrag, and Josie Schrag, all of Hutchinson; and two great-grandchildren, Brinnley and Rhet Schrag of Derby.
Dennis was preceded in death by: two infant daughters; his mother and father; and a brother, Steve Rice.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 29, 2022, at Elliott Mortuary with minister Wayne DeWindt officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson, with military honors conducted by the Kansas Army National Guard. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, with the family present from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary.
Click here to view Dennis' service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.