John M. Rice

Visitation will be held at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in St. Cloud on September 18th, 2025 from 4:00 -7:00 PM for John Mark Rice, age 76, who passed away peacefully on September 6th at Quiet Oaks Hospice in St. Cloud. A private memorial service will follow with Entombment at Assumption Cemetery in St. Cloud.
John was born in Bemidji, MN on February 20th, 1949 as the first-born son to Jack and Margaret "Pat" Rice. As a senior in high school, John and his family relocated from Bemidji to the St. Cloud area where he graduated from Cathedral High School, attended SCSU, and later joined the National Guard, serving from 1968 to 1974 before retiring as a 2nd Lieutenant and returning full time to the family business, Rice Building Systems. In December 1970, John married Margaret "Marge" Landowski at St. Mary's Cathedral in St. Cloud, and over the years they were blessed with three children and two grandchildren.
Together with his father Jack, his younger brother Dennis, and his wife Marge, John led the family construction company for over 30 years, before retiring in 2008. Over the years, Rice Building Systems built and established strong relationships with businesses across the Midwest, and as a testament to John's guidance and leadership, many continue to endure to this day. Today, Rice Companies (Rice Building Systems) continues with the third and fourth generations of the Rice Family, firmly rooted on foundations built by John and the legacy that was formed by family.
After retiring, John enjoyed golfing, boating and motorcycling during summers in Minnesota and winters in Naples, Florida. He had a close group of friends at both residences, and during his final few months his family leaned on all of them for friendship, advice, and support.
John was preceded in death by his father Jack Rice, mother Margaret "Pat" Rice, and brother Dennis Rice. John is survived and will be missed by his wife Margaret, son Chris (Jasmyn), daughters Jennifer (Dr. Michael Sufka) and Meredith, grandsons Jack and Jonathan, sisters Peggy Marrin (William), Rebecca Peterson (David) and Diana Rice (David Whissiel), and sister-in-law Danya Rice.
A very special thank you to Quiet Oaks Hospice House for the wonderful care provided for our dad during the last few days he had with us.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to Quiet Oaks Hospice House.