Ronald “Rick” Rice, 79, of Creston died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, at his home in Creston, Iowa.
Celebration of Life memorial services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. The Rev. Mary O’Riley will officiate the service. Services will be live streamed. Burial will be at a later date. Open memorial visitation with the family to receive friends will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. before service time Saturday, Jan. 14 at the funeral home.
Ronald Richard Rice Jr., son of Ronald Richard Rice Sr. and Gladys Christine Ladegaard, was born Nov. 26, 1943, in Perry, Iowa.
Rick attended Perry High School and went on to attend the University of Northern Iowa, earning his bachelor’s degree. Rick then earned his master’s degree in social work at the University of Iowa.
Rick began his career in Independence, Iowa, as a recreational therapist. He then moved to Little Falls, Minnesota, and worked as a clinical social worker. Later Rick moved to Des Moines, where he worked at a child guidance center in the outreach department as a counselor.
He settled in Creston in 1979, where he worked at Crossroads Behavioral Health Services as the executive director until retirement in 2011.
On Jan. 3, 1986, Rick was united in marriage to Annette Marie Baker in Creston.
Rick was a member of the Union County Conservation Board for 40 years and a member of the Sierra Club.
Rick and Annette traveled and photographed extensively. In addition to visiting all the contiguous states, including 13 trips to Alaska, their travels included the Arctic Circle, Iceland, the Scandinavian countries, Holland and Belgium, Mongolia, Australia, three African countries, Canada, most of the countries in Central America, Ecuador, the Galapagos, Argentina and Chile, with two trips to Antarctica.
Rick is survived by his wife, Annette (Baker) Rice of Creston; his children, Melinda Rice of Phoenix, Nathanial Rice and Kara (Andy) Haberkamp of Carlisle, Iowa; his sisters, Mariann (Frank) Baker of St. Louis, Missouri, and Suzann (Neil) Ennis of Buena Vista, Colorado; two grandchildren, Cecilia and George Haberkamp; brother-in-law, John (Retta) Baker of Creston; two sisters-in-law, Alicia (Reda) Hamze of Omaha, Nebraska, and Lynn Baker of Creston; and several special nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Gladys Rice; father-in-law, Joseph (Catharine) Baker; brothers-in-law, Paul Baker and James Laue; and sister-in-law, Joan Baker.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Union County Conservation. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.
