David Dale Rice was born in Jefferson, Iowa on November 7, 1950. His parents were Howard Wayne Rice and Mary Joan Beatrice (Cox) Rice. Dave passed away at his home in Churdan, Iowa on March 7, 2025. He was 74 years of age.
After Dave’s schooling he was joined in marriage to Linda Kay Hatfield. To this union, three boys were born: Michael David, Jonathan Lee and Gregory Allen.
Dave joined the United States Army where he was a missile guard. In his spare time, he worked on vehicles in the motor pool. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Dave became a long-haul truck driver. Dave continued in this line of work for the next 50 years, until his health forced him to retire.
Dave was united in marriage to Shirley Ann Scofield on November 5, 1979. To this union, two children were born: Jerimiah Jason and Christian Erin.
Dave always enjoyed tinkering with cars. The more challenging the problem the better he liked it. Dave has been described as a free spirit. He loved to make people laugh. He was
relentless with his teasing. Dave was as ornery as he was compassionate. He lived life by his own rules and lived life the way he wanted.
Dave also enjoyed his computers. He enjoyed building them from scratch. He loved helping people. If he ran across someone who needed a computer, he would build one and then give it to them.
Dave’s pride and joy were his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Because of his job he wasn’t always able to be there for them, but he cherished the times when he could.
Dave is survived by his wife, Shirley; sons: Michael (Crystal), Jon (Ginger), Greg (Shiela) and Jerimiah, and one daughter Christian Larson (Ken); 17 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, with number four on the way; two sisters, Marilyn Wilson and Suzanne (Charlie) Schulte, and a brother, Tim (Sheri) Rice.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Howard Rice and Joan Johnson; two brothers: Howard Duwayne Rice and Ron Rice; and one sister, Rosemary Rice.
Funeral services were held at 10:30am Friday, March 14, 2025 at First Baptist Church, Churdan, Iowa. Rev. Bill Kem of First Presbyterian Church, Jefferson, officiated. Renaye Lindgren and Rochelle Guess of First Baptist Church in Chur- dan provided music. Interment and Military Rites were held in the Rippey Cemetery, Rippey, Iowa. The Iowa Army Honor Guard provided military hon- ors. Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home.