Betty Rice
March 30th, 2010NORTHAMPTON – Elisabeth “Betty” Jane (Reeves) Rice, 88, of Northampton, died on March 20, 2010.
Born in 1921 in Waverly, Iowa, Betty grew up a farm girl living with her parents and her younger brother on several different farms in Iowa. She was active in 4-H programs. At college (now Iowa State University) at Ames, Iowa, she earned her B.S. degree in home economics. While there she attended the Baptist Student organization, where she met her future husband, William “Bill” N. Rice.
They married after graduation and were appointed as missionaries to Burma under the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. Betty took further training in the Merrill Palmer School in Detroit, in the field of nutrition. She and her husband were then sent overseas, first to India and then to Burma. Betty served in Burma as home economics demonstrator, editor of the Burma News Letter and on various mission projects. Later the Rices served in the Pyinmana Agricultural School under the Ford Foundation. After retiring from overseas service in 1959 she and the family settled in Amherst.
Betty became active in the Amherst Women’s Club, served as secretary to the pastor of the First Baptist Church and involved herself in school and community affairs. She also served on the board of directors of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts. In addition she raised five children with her husband. In 1982 she accompanied and assisted him on a 14-month assignment in Zimbabwe.
Betty was involved with both the Lathrop Home and the Lathrop Retirement Community and served in various capacities. She served as chairperson of the board of directors of the Lathrop Community and was instrumental in the development of the Lathrop Community in Easthampton.
Betty and Bill have raised five children. Their only daughter, Margaret, predeceased her. In addition to her husband, she leaves her sons, Thomas of Springfield, Norman of Andover, Richard of New Market, N.H., and Bruce of Pittsford, N.Y.; as well as seven grandchildren, Adam, Emily, Cordelia, Lydia, Sarah, Rebecca and Timothy.
A memorial service will be held at First Churches, Northampton on April 17 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Churches, 30 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060, or Lathrop Communities, 100 Bassett Brook Drive, Easthampton, MA 01027.