Mathias Frederick Rice

Mathias Frederick "Matt" Rice was born July 19, 1918. He passed away July 18, 2014 at his home in Eagle, ID; four hours shy of his 96th birthday. He was born in Verona, MO to Augusta Catherine (Prunte) and John Rice. He was the second of four children. In 1934, at the age of 16, he came to Idaho during the depression with the CCC camps. He started working for Morrison Knudsen in 1939. In 1940, he married Marie Farrow. During World War II, he joined the Navy and was stationed in the South Pacific repairing submarines. After the war, he returned to Morrison Knudsen where he traveled the world working as equipment superintendent for 41 years until his retirement in 1980. In 1985, his beloved wife of 45 years, Marie died. In 1991, he married Rosalie Johnston and they lived in Newport, OR then moved to Eagle, ID. Rosalie preceded him in death in 2009. Matt was a 32nd degree Free Mason, World War II Veteran, loving father and grandfather. He loved to fish and spent a great deal of time in Newport, OR and at his cabin in Cascade, ID. Our family would like to thank Legacy and Bright Star for their supportive hospice care, especially Coleen whose loving care made our father's final weeks comfortable. We would also like to give a special thank you to the new member of our family, Kathleen Woods, who was his primary caregiver and lived with him until his passing. We will be forever grateful for her loving care. He will be greatly missed but has left a large family behind that will always carry him in their hearts. He is survived by his six children Carleen Plodinec, Nancy Chester, Judy Riley, Ivan (Madeline) Rice, Christy (Greg) Holtman and Jeannie Peterson; 12 grandchildren Lori, Stephen, Jean-Marie, Sarah, Megan, Katy, John, Jennifer, Mark, Gabriel, Amanda, Mallory; 25 great grandchildren; a brother Bill Rice; a sister-in-law Mert; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Matt is also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Danny Peterson; a sister Louise; and a brother John. A graveside service will be held at 10 am, Friday, July 25th at Park View Cemetery, New Plymouth followed by a memorial service at 2 pm, at Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel, Boise. Services and arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette. Condolences may be made to Matt's family at www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com. Donations to honor his name may be made to the charity of your choice or the Danny Peterson Scholarship Fund at BSU, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.

Service Details.

Service

When: Friday, July 25th, 2014
Location: Funeral Home
Address: