Mike was born Dec. 9, 1955, in Cody, Wyo., to David Allen Rice and Betty Ellen Norskog. They preceded him in death, and a brother, Allen, also preceded him.
Mike grew up in Powell, Wyo. After high school, he moved to Rangely to work in the oil fields. After several years in the oil field, Mike went to work for Rangely District Hospital in the maintenance department. He went on to become director of facilities, a job he was dedicated to and enjoyed.
Many lives were touched by Mike’s dry, witty and funny sense of humor. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding his motorcycle and NASCAR.
What Mike enjoyed the most was his 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda. Between his treatments in Salt Lake, the first thing he would do when he came home was to start up the “Raven” to hear it roar and to take it for a drive.
Mike is survived by: his wife, Sara Rice of Rangely; and combined children, son Wade Rice of Salt Lake City, Utah, daughter Jessica Herrera (fiancé Robert Klein ) of Grand Junction, Colo., daughter Lysa (Kyle) Hixson of Rangely and son James (Samantha) Herrera of Fruita, Colo.; two grandchildren, Samantha Quintana of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Eli Hixson of Rangely, Colo.
He is also survived by: his sister, Nancy (Don) Barnette of New Mexico; a brother, Bernie (Leslie) Rice of Rangely; sister Marie (Richard) Holdsworth of Wyoming; and sister-in-law Billie Rice of Utah. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
