Penny Rice

Penny Ann Rice, wife of the Rev. Larry Rice and co-founder of New Life Evangelistic Center, died Wednesday, February 21, 2007 of breast cancer at Cox Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri. She was 57 and a resident of Marshfield in southwest Missouri.

Mrs. Rice was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the daughter of Gertrude "Gertie" and Harrison Bean. She was raised by grandparents after her father left home and her mother died.

She met Larry Rice in 1970, when both were attending Concordia Lutheran College in Austin, Texas. They married in 1971, and in 1972, they formed the New Life Evangelistic Center. The center started in a 50-foot trailer in Wellston; today, it has 14 ministry shelters and free stores in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, and Kansas to aid the homeless and those in need.

Mrs. Rice was general manager of KNLJ (Channel 25) in New Bloomfield, Mo, near Jefferson City, and served on the board of directors of New Life Evangelistic Center. She produced the show "Focus on Faith," recorded public service announcements and worked on the ministry newspaper, ZoaFree Paper. In 1998, she made a 10-day trip to southern India to visit orphanages, clinics and free schools supported by New Life.

Two years ago, Mrs. Rice was diagnosed with breast cancer.

In addition to her husband, among the survivors are a son, Chris Rice of Chicago; three daughters, Stephanie Pyland of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Jennifer First-Rice of New Bloomfield, and Judy Swenson of Kenosha, Wisconsin; and five grandchildren.

Dates and times for Memorial Services are listed below:

Marshfield Assembly of God 1538 W. Washington St., Marshfield Missouri Monday, February 26 at 10:30am

New Life Evangelistic Center Headquarters 1411 Locust St., St. Louis Missouri Saturday, March 3, at 4pm

MidAmerica Care Center 9810 State Road AE New Bloomfield, Missouri Sunday, March 4, at 3pm



For information on the services, memorial donations, and to share condolences and memories, visit: http://pennyannrice.wordpress.com