Carol L. Rice

Carol L. Rice, 83, passed away Thursday, November 6, 2025 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, NE.

She was born November 25, 1942 in Fort Morgan, CO to Thomas & Blanche Patton. She spent her early years on the family farm in Roggen, CO with her other 9 siblings. She attended Kiowa School a single room schoolhouse and graduated from Prospect Valley High School. After graduating she attended Beauty School in Scottsbluff, NE where she met the love of her life Jack Rice. They married April 16, 1961 in Scottsbluff, NE and celebrated 51 years together. They had 3 boys Jeff, Duane and Kevin; the family moved to Colorado in 1978 where the boys graduated, and Jack and Carol ran a successful Bar and Lounge.

They retired in 1994 and sold the business to move back to Bayard, Nebraska to help raise their 3 granddaughters: Tristain, Jackie and Cassie. After the girls graduated in about 2010 Jack and Carol moved to Alliance, NE to be closer to their family.

Carol loved owls, she had collected owl décor and had throughout her life and always had them on display in her home. She had tremendous love for her children and grandchildren and supported them in any endeavor they chose. She loved playing card games especially Rummy, where she always won. Her life growing up on the farm gave her amazingly strong will and love for animals; throughout her life she owned anything from a pet skunk to a parakeet to a dog.

Carol will be severely missed by all her loved ones and friends, remembered as a fierce momma bear and confidant who you could tell anything to and look to for advice.

Carol is survived by her sisters Tobe (Alex) Schwindt, Ruth Collins and brothers Ira Patton, Clyde Patton, Roy (Marge) Patton; son's Jeff (Kate) Rice and Kevin Rice; grandchildren Tristain Coffey, Jackie Davis, Cassie Vergil, Kamron (Brett) Rice and numerous nieces/nephews and great grandchildren.

Carol is proceeded in death by her husband Jack Rice; her parents Thomas and Blanche Patton; brothers Carl Patton & Jim Patton; sisters Betty Burnett and Dorothy Ley; her son middle Duane Rice.

We will hold a Celebration of Life for Carol in the Spring time (her favorite season) in Colorado for family and friends; date and time determined at a later date. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the American Cancer Society in honor of Carol.