Rocky Lee Rice, 73, passed away due to natural causes at Benefis Healthcare on Monday, October 21, 2024. Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 1, 2024, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Pastor Carl Ellis officiating. Burial will follow in the Big Sandy Cemetery. Rocky's family has suggested memorial donations be made in his memory to the Big Sandy Methodist Church. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Rocky's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.
Rocky was born on October 4, 1951, in Havre to Walter and Irene (Shurtliff) Rice, Jr., the first of what would be six children. He was raised in Big Sandy, attending school there. After high school, Rocky farmed on the family farm and other farms for a few years, and then entered the US Army. He served until his honorable discharge, and then returned to Big Sandy, where he continued farming with his family. He then moved to Fort Benton, where he worked as a CNA for Missouri River Medical Center for many years. After his CNA work, Rocky returned to Big Sandy and worked for several years for Big Equipment in Havre, retiring in 2016.
Rocky enjoyed fishing and hunting, and he loved watching his Westerns. He tried his hand at gardening, but the plants didn't cooperate. He was also a member of the Big Sandy Methodist Church, and was very active in the church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Irene Rice, Jr .; brother, Clay Rice; and sister-in-law, Bambi Rice.
Rocky is survived by his siblings, Wade Rice of Big Sandy, AlReen (Tim) Jensen of Kalispell, Will Rice of Ainsworth, Nebraska, and Ben (Kathy) Rice of Big Sandy; sister-in-law, Melinda Rice of Scottsboro, AL; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
