Lyla M. Rice, age 83, of Aberdeen and formerly of Huron, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Bethesda Home in Aberdeen. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, January 17, 2025 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Huron with burial to follow at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery in Huron. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday afternoon.

View Lyla's Memorial Folder

Lyla Mae Rice was born on May 31, 1941, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota to parents Clarence and Leah (Magnell) Johnson. The first 18 years of Lyla's life was spent around the Oklee, Minnesota area. She and her family spent 6 winters in San Diego, California while her parents farmed. She graduated from high school in Oklee in 1959. She attended the University of North Dakota for two years before marrying Verdell Rice on June 11, 1961. Lyla started working after their marriage while Verdell received his degree in 1964. The young couple lived in Northern California while Verdell worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. They welcomed their first child, Debbie, in 1965 in Gustine, California. In 1967, the family moved to Huron where Verdell was transferred with the Bureau; that same year they welcomed their son, Brian.

Lyla returned to college at Huron University and graduated in 1976 with her BA in Sociology and Psychology. She worked as the activity director for two years at the Senior Center. She then took a job with the State of South Dakota in Adult Services working as a Social Worker for 20 years. She retired in 1999.

Lyla had many hobbies and interests including knitting, reading, exercising and water aerobics. Her favorite hobby and interest, however, was genealogy. She initially began her research from 1968 to 1974 while her children were at home, all this work was done on typewriter. After retirement, she fixed up a spare room and called it her "heritage room" with pictures, maps, charts, flags and numerous Norwegian and Swedish items. She enjoyed traveling to many states and places and two trips to Norway and Sweden. All family was at the center of her life. She also enjoyed photography and has numerous pictures and memories for her children and grandchildren to cherish forever.

A special thank you to Bethesda Home and Primrose Care Center for their wonderful care.

Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Debbie (Jim) Panerio of Aberdeen and Brian (Deb) Rice of Brandon; 4 grandchildren, Alex Panerio (Austin) of Peoria, AZ, Colin Panerio of St. Paul, MN, Elaina Rice of Sioux Falls, Jack Rice of Brandon; her brother, Curtis (Carol) Johnson of Leesburg, FL, and her sister-in-law, JoAnn Youngquist of Crookston, MN: 2 nieces and 4 nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Verdell in 1985, and her parents, Clarence and Leah Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Alzheimer's Association of South Dakota or Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Huron.