Donald James Rice
Obituaries
Daily Sentinel page 5A - January 13, 2021
Don Rice passed away
peacefully at his home
Thursday, January 7, 2021, in
Grand Junction, Colorado at the
age of 87.
He was born on May 6, 1933,
in Nucla, Colorado, to Jim and
Rosalie Rice. He grew up on the
family ranch with his sisters,
Bonnie Curtis and Edith Davis. He graduated from Colorado State
University with a degree in Animal Husbandry in 1956. One week
later he married Marianna Enstrom, also from Nucla. Six months
later he joined the US Army and was honorably discharged.
Don and Marianna purchased the family cattle ranch from his
parents and there they raised three children, Christine Villard
(Lynn), Michele Bergmann (Steven), and John Rice (Tammy). He
was proud of how Marianna and the children worked alongside
him to keep the ranch operating. Don was an authentic rancher
and cowboy engaged in all aspects of ranch life including raising
cattle, doing his own veterinary work, shoeing and breaking horses,
rounding up cattle and branding calves.
Due to health reasons, they sold the ranch in 1979, and he began
a new career with the State of Colorado Department of Natural
Resources. He worked as a Water Commissioner in Fort Collins
and Craig, Colorado, retiring in 1992. He was instrumental in
developing one of the first data tracking systems for water allocation
for Northwest Colorado. He was awarded Water Commissioner of
the Year for his division.
After retirement they lived in the communities of Craig, and
Nucla, settling permanently in Grand Junction in 2010. His
fondest memories were of time spent with family and friends as
well as traveling, woodworking, and time at the cabin near Craig.
Throughout his entire life he was known as a quiet and kind man
with impeccable integrity.
Don served on the West End School Board for several years,
the Montrose County Planning and Zoning Commission, and
the National Forest Service Advisory Board. He was a member
of the Nucla Cattleman’s Association and a board member of the
Colorado Cooperative Ditch Company. Throughout his life he was
an active member of the church, serving as a trustee and on various
committees.
He is preceded in death by sisters, Edith and Bonnie, and
great-granddaughter, ClairLynn. He is survived by his wife of 64
years, Marianna; three children; six grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. His
grandchildren are Sean Villard (Amanda), Amy Villard (fiancé
Cody Tennant), Deanna and Kayla Bergmann, Katie and Spencer
Rice. His great-grandchildren are Logan and EvaMarie Villard and
Ashley and Luke Rhodes.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to HopeWest Hospice in
Grand Junction at hopewestco.org.
Service at Redlands Methodist Church on Friday, January 15,
2021, at 2:00 p.m.