Signa Rice

Signa Isabelle (Woods) Rice, age 86, of Broadus passed away on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at the Powder River Manor.

Signa was born in Sheridan, Wyoming on September 10, 1937, the daughter of Oscar Carl and Elvy Maria (Maak) Woods. Twelve years later a brother Bert arrived to the family. Signa grew up working beside her mother and father on the ranch between Whiteland ranger station and Home Creek Butte. She became an avid horsewoman and was very good at working cattle on horseback. Her mother Elvy was a Swedish born immigrant that came to America at age 2 weeks with her parents August and Ingaborg Maak. Her father Oscar Woods was a cowboy whose heritage traced back to the Mayflower.

Signa met Calvin Rice at a dance he was playing for at age 13 and it was love at first sight for her, they later started dating and were married a few weeks after her 18th birthday on September 19, 1955. To this union, two sons were born. Allen arrived in February of 1957 and Vernon in August of 1958.

Signa was a fair piano player in her younger years. She and Calvin liked to dance and play music. Life was tough back then and Signa and her sister-in-law Janet helped out by cleaning the Congregational Church. Later Signa sold Avon for a few years to help out with extra income. She also worked for O. Gorman's and cleaned the IGA for around 20 years.

Signa was preceded in death by her husband Calvin, her parents Oscar and Elvy Woods, aunt and uncle Pete & Florence Gress, a uncle Carl Maak, daughter-in-law Nancy (Olson) Rice, brother-in-law Nathan Rice and cousin Rusty Maak. She is survived by her sons: Allen Rice and Vernon (Andrea) Rice; Grandchildren: Levi (Swan) Rice, Calvin L. rice, Ricky Lee Rice, Krissy Rice and Leonard (Misti) Rice; great grandchildren: Kaisley, Dominic and Vinnie; foster sister Janet (Nathan) Rice who was also a sister-in-law and her children Rick and Kathy; brother Bert (Helen) Woods and Berts children Laiben, Wade, Denver, O.C. and Rose; sister-in-law Lois Cullipher and family and her cousins: the Gress boys, Leo, Bob and Don Maak, Lee Fruit and family.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at the Powder River Congregational Church in Broadus. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Powder River Congregational Church in Broadus. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Valley View Cemetery in Broadus. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: http://www.stevensonandsons.com.