Mary Elizabeth Cline was born at home on a farm near Exline, Iowa to Phillip and Jessie Cline. She attended the Beard Rural School through eighth grade, graduated from Exline High School, attended one year of Centerville Junior College after which she taught three years in Caldwell Township rural schools. With the encouragement of Aunt Maude Pittman, Jessie's youngest sister, Mary stayed with Aunt Maude and attended Drake University, earning a two year certificate and after that Mary taught four years in Waukee, Iowa consolidated school district. During these four years, she continued her education at Drake University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Education degree in 1947, the year she was hired by the Denver Public Schools. Mary then taught 29 years in the Denver Public School system with a 4 1/2 year period at home while her children were small.
Mary met Mortimer Edgar Rice in Denver in 1948 and they were married at Central Christian Church on October 12, 1949. They had two children, Mark (Sue) Rice of Greenwood Village, CO and Ruth (Ray) Vermillion of Redwood Falls, MN. Mary loved her five grandchildren, Reagan (Spencer), Robert (Kristin), Russell (Lindsey), Kaitlin (John) and Megan, and her six great grandchildren, Rylee, Ryker, Nolan, Rodney, Rozlynn and Ella.
Family has always been the center of Mary's life and they were all saddened at the loss of Mort in 1969.
Family, teaching, travel after retirement, groups in AAUW, friends from Bible Study Fellowship, work, volunteering on the Deaconess Board of Central Christian Church, and a host of good friends made for a happy life.
