Dorothy Anne Rice

Dorothy Anne Rice of La Crosse, WI left this world for heaven on March 18, 2025 while at her cozy abode in daughter’s home with family present. Dorothy was born July 22nd, 1927 to Frederic R. and Lillian D. (Christopherson) Finstrom at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. She had one sister, Elsie E. Finstrom and one special God-given sister Beverly (Oberg) Anderson.At age 2 the Finstrom’s moved from Minnesota to Cadillac, MI where Fred farmed for many years. Dorothy attended grade school in a one room country school. Several moves and years later Dorothy graduated from Redford H.S. near Detroit, MI, and left for Bethel College in St. Paul, MN. She attended part time while working at Farm Owners Mutual Insurance Co. to pay for her education. It was at Bethany Baptist Church in Roseville, MN where Dorothy met the love of her life, Lawrence E. Rice, and they married May 5, 1951. As newlyweds Dorothy worked at Farm Owners Mutual Insurance Co, and then KSTP television station while Larry got his education at the U of MN in Mpls. Upon Larry’s graduation, he joined the USN (Reserve) and they traveled from coast-to-coast during his tour of duty. Upon discharge from the USNR they settled in New Brighton, MN and welcomed son, John Claude and daughter Sharon Ann, making them a family. This young family started the “moves” again in the early 1960’s as Larry’s employment as an architect took them to Traverse City, MI, Wyoming, MI, Madison, WI, Verona, WI and then to LaCrosse, WI in 1975, where they resided until 2015 when they moved in with daughter, Sharon, and her husband, Bruce Pearson. Dorothy’s employment in La Crosse included working for Dickinson’s Funeral Home, General Electric, and as an Administration Assistant for the La Crosse County Guidance Clinic. Dorothy was an active member of Temple Hill Baptist, MI as a youth, Bethany Baptist in MN, Elim Baptist (Charter member) in Madison, Wi, and Bethany Free Church in La Crosse, WI. She enjoyed serving the Lord over the years as a Jr. High Sunday school teacher, on various service boards, catering weddings, planning for and helping cook adult fellowship dinners and being a traveler & chaperone with the Enthusiastics Youth Choir. Dorothy also was a Deaconess and worked with hospitality for the church. In her later years she thoroughly enjoyed working in hospitality and the Encouragers Class (in Senior ministry), planning trips and concerts for seniors in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Hobbies kept Dorothy busy. These included: collecting Candlewick Crystal, genealogy searches, traveling, camping, and fishing, and she was a voracious reader until macular degeneration took much of the sight from her eyes. For about 15 years the Rice’s were called “Winter Texans” and they chose Mission, TX in the Rio Grande River Valley to be their winter home. Dorothy is survived by her daughter Sharon (Bruce) Pearson and their children Bethany Anne (Brandon) Guertin and Benjamin Bruce (Madeline) Pearson; daughter-in-law Lynne (Steve) Perovich and her sons Joshua Lawrence Rice and Jacob John Rice; and granddaughters Hadley Joy and Teagan Faith Pearson. She is also greatly missed by beloved son in the Lord Raymond Yuen, daughter in the Lord, Susan Kimmel-Freeman and her children Matt (Ashley) and Amanda Kimmel-Freeman, many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and numerous dear friends. Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents Fred and Lillian Finstrom, sister Elsie Finstrom, husband Lawrence Rice, son John, and granddaughter Hannah Margaret Pearson along with her brother and sister in the Lord, Dr. Norman P and Beverly Anderson, and lastly her grandparents August and Hilma Finstrom and Ole John and Anna Christopherson, all from Sweden. A memorial service of thanksgiving and worship will be held at 11 AM on Friday, April 4th, with visitation one hour prior and luncheon to follow at The North Church, 5151 Program Ave., Mounds View, MN. Livestream available beginning 10 minutes prior to the service at https://thenorthchurch.com/special-event/ Interment at Oak Grove Cemetery, Webster, WI.In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to The North Church or Hope Rides.