Richard W Rice

Richard was born August 10, 1931, in Ainsworth, Nebraska to Warren Lincoln and Burdetta Oneida (Simmons) Rice, the second of four children; two sons and two daughters.

Richard attended high school in Neligh, Nebraska, where he met Joyce Truax; daughter of Elmer and Florence (Honeywell) Traux. They were married in Neligh on June 1, 1952. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, Randall Scott and Roger Warren Rice. In 1953, Richard completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He also completed his R.O.T.C. program and entered the U.S. Airforce until 1955, serving for a time in Labrador in communications. Achieving the rank of Captain, Richard returned to the University of Nebraska and completed his Master’s Degree in Animal Husbandry in 1958. He then continued his education at Michigan State University completing his PhD in Animal Nutrition in 1960.

Richard went on to become a young professor from 1960 to 1975 at the University of Wyoming in the Department of Animal Science with responsibilities for research, extension, teaching and mentoring graduate students. By 1975, Richard became the head of the Department of Animal Science at the University of Arizonia at Tucson supervising programs in beef cattle, sheep, dairy, poultry, and racetrack industry. He was actively involved in research, tracking graduate student programs and extension programs. In 1981, he left administrative duties and took a sabbatical year at U.S. Meat Animal Research in Clay Center, Nebraska participating in active research in beef cattle grazing behavior and holistic resource management. Richard returned to the University of Arizona in 1982 to continue as a professor in Animal Science with duties including teaching, research, extension and graduate student programs.

On March 30, 1985, Richard married Glenna M. (Williams) Doering, daughter of Charles N. and Verna M. (Gabel) Williams, in Tucson, Arizona. Richard became the loving and caring stepfather to Terry R. Doering and Lisa Ann (Doering) Gimino (John).

In 1987 Richard and Glenna were pleased to add an extended family member when a young student from Mexico, Francisco Delagado, joined the University of Arizona and shared their home while he attended undergraduate classes.

Richard was a renowned range animal (ruminant) scientist and active in the American Society for Animal Science and the Society for Range Management. He was one of the few scientists that had a strong interest in rangeland animal production rather than feedlots. This focus attracted graduate students from Africa and South America. Working with these students and graduate students gave him much pleasure and satisfaction. Among the many projects Richard assisted he was very proud of his early work with artificial intelligence in its infancy, his research with American Bison and his research with Hereford Project with the San Carlos Apache Ranch at Arsenic Tubs in Arizona. Richard remained at the University of Arizona until he retired in 2001 at the age of 70.

Richard and Glenna moved to Hastings Nebraska to provide family support in 2002. Here he belonged to the noon Lion’s Club, the Hastings Symphony board and the Adams County Historical Society. Richard helped with the many projects involved in restoring their home in the Central Hastings Historic District. Richard and Glenna joined the Greater Hounds of Ireland in Omaha Nebraska and enjoyed participating in the Renaissance Fair and St. Patrick’s Day parades in Omaha with their Irish Wolfhound. Richard’s love of all animals extended to many household pets over the 40 years of their marriage, giving him much pleasure.

SURVIVORS:

Wife: Joyce E. Rice, former wife Glenna M. Rice, present wife

Son: Randall Scott (Tracy) Rice

Step-son: Terry Doering

Step-daughter: Lisa Ann (John) Gimino

Grandchildren: Jordan Rice Cody Rice Kevin (Megan) Rice Sean Rice

Great grandchildren: Kylie (Shawn) Crenshaw Avery Hughes

Great-Great Grandchildren: Liora Crenshaw

Sister: Dorothy (Ron) Brandt

Sister-in-law: Marilyn Rice Brother-in-law: Jerry Williams Special Friend: Francisco (Claude) Delgado

Preceded in death by his parents; Warren & Burdetta (Simmons) Rice, son; Roger Warren Rice, Sister; Edna Joann (Bill) Shaver, and brother; Donald Rice.

Memorial Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Butler Volland Funeral Home Chapel in Hastings with Chaplain John Mueller officiating. Memorials may be given to the Nature Conservancy, Crane Trust, Doctors without Borders or local animal shelters. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Richard’s obituary and click the play button shown toward the bottom of the page. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.