Arlene Rice

Arlene B. Rice, age 94, was born April 18, 1930 to Gunnar and Ruth Newberg Carlson in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The family moved to Milaca where she attended school and graduated from Milaca High School in 1948.  She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca where she was a member for over thirty years.  She was active in all the Women’s organizations and was a soloist and choir director.  She was also instrumental in organizing the first senior citizens group at Zion.

Arlene was united in marriage to Ted Rice on October 22, 1949 at Zion.  They farmed east of Milaca for 29 years where they raised their family of four children:  Tim, Randy, Connie, and Jere.  They were active 4-H leaders for 11 years and Arlene was the 4-H safety chairman for Mille Lacs County, receiving and award from Governor Wendell Anderson for her efforts.  Arlene was the first woman Deputy Sheriff of Mille Lacs County under Sheriff Al Wilhelm and served in that capacity for nine years, followed by two years as a court bailiff.  She was an officer of the Mille Lacs County Peace Officers Association and was later made a lifetime member of that organization.  Ted and Arlene spent many hours volunteering at Lakewood Health System at Staples and Bethany Good Samaritan where they were honored as “Volunteers of the Year.”

In 1978, Ted and Arlene moved to their lake home on Middle Cullen Lake near Nisswa where she and Ted celebrated 57 years of marriage together.  Ted preceded her in death in 2006 and Arlene moved back to Milaca in 2012.  She then moved to Roosevelt at Lake of the Woods, to live with her daughter in 2018 and to Staples in 2019. 

Arlene was the executive secretary of the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce for ten years and promoted the Nisswa/Brainerd area at the Minneapolis sport shows for many years.  She was also one of the founders of the Cullen Lake Property Owners Association and served one term as their president.  Ted and Arlene were active members of Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa and Arlene served as Sunday School Superintendent and participated in other women’s organizations.  She was employed at the church as lay ministry coordinator from 2008 until she moved.  Arlene was also editor of the Northeastern Lights newsletter for the Women of the E.L.C.A. of northeastern MN for five years.

Her happiest memories were filled with time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and her church work.  The families’ yearly trip to Taylors Falls (over 70 years) was the highlight every year.

Arlene passed away May 27, 2024 at Lakewood Health System.

She is survived by her children, Tim (Lynn) of Motley, Randy (Marlene) of Ogilvie, and Connie (Dale) Peterson of Lake of the Woods; grandchildren, Amy (Brian), Chris, Matt (Cindy), Stephanie (Lydia), Kelsey, Justin (Tiffany), Travis, Morgan (Nick), and McKenna; great grandchildren, Lexi, Alexander, Briane, Tyler, Mason, Chase, Jayden, Lindi, Teddy, and Danika.  She will be missed by many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted; son, Jere;  grandson, Jeremy Zemke; parents; two sisters, Virginia (Walter) Oleen and Mae (Floyd) DeVries; and godchild, Tracee Hannon.

Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca, Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa, or Lakewood Health System in Staples.