Betty J. Rice, 92

Published 11:26 am Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Betty J. Rice, 92

Betty J. Rice, 92, of Gastonia, NC, passed away Friday, May 16, 2025, at Morningside of Gastonia surrounded by family.

Betty was born April 8, 1933, in Sanilac Co, MI, to Gerald and Bernice Titsworth.

She graduated from Lapeer High School in Lapeer, MI, then attended Michigan State University earning a degree in Medical Technology.  She married Frank Warren Rice Jr. in 1955.  Warren and Betty were married for 67 years until Warren’s death in 2023.

Betty and Warren spent most of their life together in Austin, MN.  Betty chose to be a stay-at-home mother while her children were growing up, returning to work at Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester, MN when the youngest was in high school and working there until she retired.

Betty and Warren were active members of Fellowship and First United Methodist Churches, in Austin, MN.  They were avid gardeners, often providing flowers for the church altars.  They also enjoyed square dancing and were members of the Austin Promenaders for many years.

Betty and Warren traveled extensively visiting Russia, China, Australia, Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Haiti and Mexico as well as many, many US locations.  Their trips often included charity/mission work with NOMADS and other organizations.

Betty always loved sewing and needle crafts making everything from a tent to clothes for her children and reupholstering furniture.  She was an accomplished quilter and made hundreds of quilts many of which were donated to the Project Linus charity which provides handmade blankets to seriously ill children.  Each grandchild received a quilt made from fabric scraps from clothing made for their parent, accompanied by a booklet of photos of mom or dad wearing some of the clothes.  Betty was generous with her time and expertise, always willing to share her knowledge with anyone who asked.

Betty was never afraid of a challenge.  She and Warren built a geodesic dome home themselves.  Even though technology had changed a great deal between her early working years and when she returned to work two decades later, she was quick to pick up the technology and became the go-to computer person in the lab.  After retiring she used her technical expertise to do machine embroidery and custom designs for her quilts.

Betty enjoyed spending time with her family.  She was devoted to Warren and was his primary caregiver and advocate from his diagnosis to his death from Alzheimer’s.  She moved to Gastonia, NC after the death of her husband.  Betty will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

Betty was preceded in death by husband Frank Warren Rice Jr, mother Bernice Titsworth, father Gerald Titsworth and stepmother Naomi Titsworth.

Betty is survived by her children Debra Ann Dvorak (Paul), Kathleen S. Rice (Greg Loek), Carol E. Bartels (Ken), and Frank Warren “Chip” Rice, III (Sara Chute); brother, Jerry Titsworth; sister, Jeaneen Titsworth; 15 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren – all of whom were her favorite.

A celebration of life service was held in Gastonia, NC May 24.