Mary Jo "Mitzi" Rice, 68
Mary Jo “Mitzi” Rice, 68, passed away in her sleep on Nov. 25, 2023, in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she and husband Dixon spent Thanksgiving with their oldest son, Devin.
She was born on Jan. 23, 1955, in Butte, Montana, the only child of Joseph and Mary Leary. She grew up in Butte, attending Catholic grade schools and graduating from Butte Central High. She then went on to earn both Bachelors and Masters Degrees at Montana State University in Bozeman.
When she searched for a high school teaching position, the only opening for a business teacher in the entire state of Montana was at Columbia Falls High School, where she was hired and taught for nearly 30 years, eventually becoming department chair.
One of her best friends from college, Andy Rice, introduced her to his older brother in Moose’s Saloon, and on June 25, 1983, she married Dixon Rice and they made their home in Kalispell, Montana.
She belonged to Risen Christ Catholic Church in Evergreen, and was active in a number of Flathead Valley nonprofit groups. About 25 years ago, she became owner of Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, and prided herself on assembling a caring and competent staff.
She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s nearly 15 years ago and fought hard against that progressive and incurable disease, getting involved in exercise and Tai Chi classes and Rock Steady Boxing workouts. In recent years, her husband Dixon became her full-time caregiver so she was able to stay at home.
She is survived by her husband, Dixon at the family home; two daughters, Shannon Wilkinson and her husband Troy in Las Vegas, Nevada and Megan Hollenkamp and her husband Logan in Eagan, Minnesota; two sons, Devin Rice and his partner Becca in Fort Collins, Colorado and Jared Rice in Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren, Mackenzie, Kayleigh and Abigail Wilkinson in Las Vegas, and Calvin, Rose and Olive Hollenkamp in Eagan; and multitudes of cousins, friends and former students.
Visitation and viewing will take place Friday Dec. 1, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell, followed by a Rosary. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday Dec. 2, at 11 a.m. at Risen Christ Catholic Church in Evergreen, with Fr. Stanislaw Rog officiating. Burial will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
Mitzi loved children and so the family encourages contributions in her memory to an educational or youth charity of your choice.
Friends are encouraged to visit our website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.