Velma Kathryn Rice

Velma Kathryn Rice, age 89 of Newton, passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2020 at the Comfort House in Pella.  A graveside funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 10:30 am at Silent City Cemetery in Monroe.  Visitation will begin on Thursday, September 10, from 9:00 - 10:15 am at Coburn Funeral Home in Monroe.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org), and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com. The daughter of Henry William and Cornelia (Hiemstra) Vriezelaar, Velma was born on August 13, 1931 on Locustdale Farm in Otley, Iowa.  She graduated from Monroe High School.  She was united in marriage to Donald Fisher in 1948 and later divorced.  In 1955, Velma married William Rice in Kansas City, Missouri.  Velma was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, and will be missed by many. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Monroe.  Her career involved being an office secretary for many years and various types of sales. She and her husband,...[more]

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band, Bill, owned and operated The Farmhouse Restaurant in Melcher. She was an avid gardener and loved every type of flower. Those left to honor her memory include her two children, Robert (Sue) Fisher and Janice Marie (Rick) Shipman; two grandchildren, Nathaniel (Martina) Fisher and Kristy (Paul) Hamilton; seven great grandchildren, Ethan, Nate, Peter, Elinor, Kelsey, Olivia, Patrick, and Katie; and a sister, Mary Schendel.  Preceding Velma in death were her parents; her infant daughter, Judith Ann; husband, William; two sisters, Madeline West and Coralee Woody; and two brothers, Arthur Vriezelaar and John Vriezelaar.