Grace Ida Rice

Grace Sutton Rice, 90, of Las Vegas, Nev., passed away after a long illness on Oct. 3, 2014. She was under the care of hospice.
Grace Ida Sutton Rice was born in Archer, Idaho, on Feb. 24, 1924, to Charles Vestal Sutton and Ida Allen Sutton. She was raised in Archer and enjoyed spending time her many cousins picking wild flowers, swimming and trips to the mountains to pick huckleberries. There were trips to Yellowstone Park and the summer was not complete without many trips to Heise Hot Springs.
Her school years were spent in Archer until her junior year. Then they were bused to Rexburg, where she graduated in 1942. She had four good friends all through her school years; Myra, Lorna, Beulah and Anita. She married classmate, Ellis Austin Rice, in 1942 in Rexburg; their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They spent their first summer in West Yellowstone working. In 1943, she and her firstborn daughter, Linda, moved home to live with her parents while her husband served overseas during World War II. After the war, they moved to Lorenzo where their second daughter, Lana, joined the family. In 1950, they bought a new home in Idaho Falls and welcomed their third daughter, Arlene. Several winters were spent in Tucson, Ariz., for work, then they settled in Ucon, Idaho. The last three of the family, David, Lisa and Brett were born while living there. In 1965, the family moved to Las Vegas, Nev., and Grace went to work for the Post Office in 1967, working as a mail sorter and retired in 1992. The family spent many years enjoying Lake Mead with family and friends.
After the children were grown, Grace and Ellis took many vacations all over the USA. They spent many summers in Idaho. They learned to play golf and loved the hours walking the fairways with friends.
Grace was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Grace is survived by her children, Linda (Alton) Erickson, of Idaho Falls; Lana Blaidsell, of Cameron, N.C.; Arlene Phillips, of Las Vegas, Nev.; David (Cindy) Rice, of Las Vegas; Brett Rice, of Pocatello; 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis; daughter, Lisa Cummings and brothers, Mark Sutton and LaRelle Sutton.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 West Main Street, Rigby.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, at the Sutton Cemetery in Archer, Idaho. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com.