Gary Lee Rice

His funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Gering Zion Church with Pastor John Adams officiating. Interment will follow at West Lawn Cemetery. Casual western attire requested. Visitation will be Tuesday from 1-7 p.m. at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel. Memorials may be given to the family to be designated at a later date. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com.

Gary Lee Rice, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, 69, of Mitchell, NE became cancer free when he took his heavenly journey with his son and family by his side on Friday, February 19, 2016 at Regional West Medical Center.

Gary was born in Scottsbluff on October 14, 1946 to Floyd and Glada (Keyser) Rice. He started his education at a Bayard country school and finished his education at Scottsbluff High School. He lived in Custer County, Nebraska on a family ranch during his early years. Gary learned at a young age how to work and break horses.

In 1969 Gary married Elaine Adams Broussard and became the father of Joseph Broussard. As a family they moved to Colorado where he worked as an electrician before returning to Mitchell and went to work for Great Western Sugar, for 43 years, until his retirement and illness set in. In that time Gary purchased the Adams’ family homestead farm where he lived for over 25 years.

Gary loved spending time and bragging about his children and grandchildren. His second passion was a love of animals, which included breeding and raising quarter horses and his sidekick Spudsy, his dog. He was a loving man with a big heart whom befriended lifelong friends. Gary was a funny man with a great sense of humor up until his last hours. He was an unselfish, caring, but strong man up until his last breath.

Gary is survived by his son, Joseph (Carrie) Broussard of Minatare; Grandchildren Dustin Broussard (Justin Johnson), Dillon Broussard (Kaitlin Luikens), and Morgan Broussard; his sisters Myona Hall of Scottsbluff; Myrna (Jim) Smith of Pueblo, CO; Linda Kirby of Missouri; Aunt Roberta (Zac) Tobias of Custer Co, NE; sister-in-law Carol Rice; many nephews, nieces, cousins and special friend Sandra Stovall.

He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Glada Rice, brothers Jim (Renee) Rice, Jack Rice, brother-in-law Jim Hall, niece Rhonda Rice and nephew Duane Rice.