On Thursday, August 24, 2023, Dorene Rice, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away at the age of 86 in the Skyview Nursing Home at Bridgeport Nebrasksa. Her memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, September 1, 2023, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Broadwater with Pastor Bev Adam and Pastor Bud Gillespie officiating. Inurnment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Broadwater with Pastor Jonathan Seng officiating. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Dorene’s honor be made in care of either the church or to the cemetery. Online condolences may be made by viewing Dorene’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Bridgeport is entrusted with arrangements.
Dorene M. Rice was born June 20, 1937, in Dalton Nebraska to Harvey and Esther (Ravert) Chorn. She and her twin sister Lorene were welcomed to this world by their older sister Shirley.
As a child, Dorene grew up on a farm/ranch south of Broadwater Nebraska. She attended elementary grades at country school and graduated from Broadwater High School in 1955. She was married to Don Rice on August 28th, 1956, the second couple to be married at the Broadwater Presbyterian Church. To this union, 4 children were born: Kirk, Kim, Kyle, and Karen.
Don & Dorene spent most of their life in the Broadwater area where they met where many lifelong friends. Spending their time socializing, having coffee, playing cards, and attending the Saturday night dances. Dorene babysat several children in many communities over the years and served as the secretary of Browns Creek Irrigation District for 38 years. While working at Rushcreek Land and Livestock Company, Dorene cooked hundreds of meals for cowboys, hired men, and hay-crews. In retirement, they enjoyed traveling with friends and family to several destinations with highlight trips to Branson, MO and London, England. Dorene was fun loving and could find any reason to have a celebration. She thoroughly enjoyed Holidays, weekends, any time she could get together with her friends and family. She was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Broadwater, served on the Broadwater Cemetery Board and Broadwater Library Board.
She is survived by her children Kirk & Carolyne Rice; Kim & Jim Smith; Kyle & Shelly Rice; and Karen & Kenny Davis; 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren with a set of twins on the way.
She was proceeded in death by her husband Don Rice, parents Harvey & Esther Chorn, sisters Shirley Watson and Lorene Stopher.