Richard Bice, 86, of Ideal, SD passed away on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center in Winner, SD. A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 23rd, 2023 at 2:00PM at the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Winner, SD. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services.

Richard LeRoy Bice was born on January 18, 1937 to Melvin and Roberta Hampson Bice at the General Hospital in Winner, SD. He was the second child of nine children.

Richard attended grade school at the Bice School. The school was walking distance from the family home. He graduated from Winner High School in 1955. After graduation Richard worked on the family farm with his father.

Richard once shared, "I could never remember being bored. I did chores, brought in firewood and drinking water. When I was old enough (about 8 years old), I began driving pickups and tractors. After chores were finished, we were able to play outside without anyone being anxious about us getting abducted. We made up our own games.  Had fun with large cardboard boxes, it could be a fort, barn, or a playhouse, whatever our imagination wanted it to be. There were not a lot of restrictions when we grew up.  But, we survived, riding in the back of the pickup, not using a helmet when we rode a bike, driving at 8 or 10 years old, receiving a BB gun, not knowing what a seat belt was, and everyone at home and school drank water out of a bucket with the same dipper."

Richard married Betty Maxwell, his high school sweetheart, on January 8, 1956.  To this union, 3 children were born.

Richard lived in Tripp County all of his life. His roots were dug deep there. Richard and Betty bought the Bice family farm in 1987. Richard had a passion for farming and ranching, which he passed on to his son Rick and grandsons Tucker and Chad.

Richard's greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You could always find him hunting and shooting when he wasn't working. Richard held yearly hunts for the School for The Deaf for several years while his grandson Tucker attended there. Richard was involved in 4-H horse shows and rodeos while his children were in school.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, sister Patty, brother Archie, mother and father-in-law Edna and Ed Johnson, and cousins Milo and Juanita Koskan.

Richard is survived by his wife Betty; sons James (Tammy) Bice of Rapid City and Rick (Deb) Bice of Ideal; and daughter Sherry (Robert) VanMatre of Yuma, AZ; grandchildren Tucker (Michele) Bice of Winner, Jessica (Robby) Gleeson of Yuma, AZ, Chad VanMatre of Yuma, AZ, Jamie (Jason) Zomer of Hartford, and Joshua (Sarah) Bice of Rapid City; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters Betty (Dale) Waters,

Vesta (Vernie) Frank, and Deb (Lennie) Steffen; brothers Don (Ardy) Bice, Jon (Karen) Bice, Greg (Sis) Bice; sister-in-law Marilyn Bice; and many nieces and nephews.