Ellen Rice

Ellen Mae Rice, 88, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed away on June 10, 2025, after a courageous battle with leukemia. She was born on June 26, 1936, in Kimball, Idaho, the daughter of Elvin Charles “Bob” and Barbara Ellen “Nellie” Mecham.

Ellen grew up in a two-bedroom home on the Fort Hall Reservation with her 10 siblings. She married Dee Rice in the Idaho Falls LDS temple on September 2, 1955. They enjoyed a life together for 68 memorable loving years and brought 5 sons into the world.

Ellen supported Dee through school and career changes, raised their growing family through job transitions, house projects, and always remained the heart and soul of the home. They spent many years traveling the country for Dee’s career with their sons before settling in Pocatello, Idaho.

She graduated from Blackfoot High School (Class of 1953) and took many classes at Idaho State College. She spent several years at Longhurst store and then ZCMI before gaining her realtor license. That license brought her to one of her many loves - a cabin tucked away in the mountains above Bear Lake.

There, she enjoyed many years of walking along the beach, painting, gardening, and finding cures for any ailment. Her family will always remember her picking raspberries before breakfast. She also spent much time in her sewing room quilting.

She enjoyed seeing the world but found herself returning many times to southern Utah for the winter months.

Ellen was active in her faith. She was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was proud of her time as a Boy Scout leader. She and Dee served two missions for the church.

She loved yellow roses and the hymn “Nearer My God to Thee.” She made connections with all those who crossed her path and brought a smile with her great sense of humor. She displayed a fierce love for her family and lived for her children and grandchildren.

Ellen Rice will be remembered for her kindness, strength, faith, and devotion.

Ellen is survived by her children and their spouses, Ron and Kathy, Dave and Debbie, Jon and Sandra, Nate and Julia; and her siblings, LaRene Mecham Vaughn, Velda Mecham Davis, Bertha Mecham Marler, Daryle Mecham (Jackie), Doyle Mecham (Marilyn), Gloria Mecham Cheirrett (Clair), and sister-in-law, Helen Lyman Mecham. Ellen leaves a memorable legacy of love and memories in the minds and hearts of 16 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elvin Charles Mecham and Barbara Ellen Stutznegger Mecham; husband, Dee Rice; one son, Robert “Bob” Rice (Susan); one grandson, Casey Dee Rice; her siblings, Elvin Mecham, James Mecham, Millie Helm, and Donald Mecham; brothers-in-law, Carl Marler, Claude Vaughn, and Richard Davis and sister-in-law, Darla Smith Mecham.

Ellen’s life will be celebrated on Monday, June 16, 2025, at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Rd. Chubbuck, ID. A viewing will be held from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral services, which will be at 11:00 a.m. Graveside services will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, 2864 S. 5th Ave. Pocatello, ID.

Thank you to Shell at Heritage Home Health and Hospice, who took such good and loving care of her.

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