Helen Gertrude Rice

Helen Gertrude Rice, one of five children of Nellie Gertrude (Watson) and Ray Lincoln, was born at Pickering, Missouri on October 12, 1918. The family moved to Tabor, Iowa where Gertie attended high school and was a member of the First Christian Church.
Gertie and Charles H. Rice were married at Hamilton, Missouri on December 9, 1935. They established their first home at Tabor and moved to Malvern, Iowa in the early 1940's. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Donna and Jackie. Gertie worked for many years as a waitress at the J. D. CafA(c) in Red Oak, Iowa. She was an active member of the Malvern American Legion Auxiliary.
Donna's sales work took her to California and Mexico so Gertie and Charles raised Donna's son, Charles Hankins from age nine months through his high school graduation.
Gertie and Charles had been married for 44 years when Charles died in 1979. Gertie continued to live in their home in Malvern enjoying the time she could spend with her grandchildren and their families. In the early 1990's, Donna returned to Malvern to make her home with Gertie. Gertie's son, Jackie Rice died on January 17, 1999. Donna, who was receiving treatments for cancer, knew she could no longer care for Gertie whose health had continued to decline. In September of 2002, Gertie and Donna moved to Grove, Oklahoma to live with Donna's son Charles and his wife Nancy and their children Shawn Hankins of Orlando, Florida, Anna Hankins of Grove, and Chas Hankins of Bartlett, Kansas. Donna died on October 31, 2002.
On December 4, 2002, Gertie died at the Integris Grove General Hospital at the age of 84 years, 1 month, and 22 days. In addition to her parents, husband, and children, Gertie was preceded in death by her brothers Paul Lincoln and Ray Lincoln. She is survived by her sisters Wilma Kuhlenbeck of Davenport, IA and Mary Ellen Kopp of Council Bluffs, IA; daughter-in-law Marilyn Rice of Loveland, Colorado; grandchildren Charles Hankins, Rick Rice, Mark Rice, Brandon Rice, and Jackie Chambers; seven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.