Ray Eldron Rice, 94, died June 1, 2006, at Mennonite Manor, South Hutchinson.

He was born April 4, 1912, in Cloud County, the son of Harrison Sherwood and Emma Elizabeth Dilliner Rice. He graduated in 1929, from Delphos High School. He was a longtime Delphos resident, moving to Hutchinson in 1993. Growing up he worked in the family business Rice Cash Hardware Store, Delphos. Later he owned Rice Insurance Agency and farmed in the Solomon Valley area for more than 63 years.

While in Delphos he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in Hutchinson he was a member of the Countryside Baptist Church.

On Aug. 1, 1933, he married Margaret Louise Larson. She died Sept. 8, 1990. On July 11, 1993, he married Florine McAllister Hoskinson at Ponca City, Okla. She survives.

Other survivors include: a nephew, Rex Rice and his wife, Etoys, Delphos; a stepson, John Hayes and wife, Sandy, Hutchinson; four stepdaughters, Willa Abernathy, San Francisco, Paulette Hedden and husband Ken, Parkville, Mo., Colleen Buggeln and husband Bob, Hutchinson, and Norma Womack and husband Bob, Goddard; 10 step-grandchildren; and many stepgreat-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul and Acil Rice.

Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Delphos Cemetery, Delphos, with the Rev. Dusty Cowell presiding. Friends may sign the register from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Elliott Mortuary Hutchinson. Cremation will take place. The family will greet friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary.

Memorials may be sent to Countryside Baptist Church, or to the Presbyterian Church of Delphos, both in care of the mortuary.

Personal condolences may be sent to www.elliottmortuary.com.