Dolores C. Kenik Rice

Lifelong Great Falls resident, Dolores (Kwaczenik/Kenik) Rice, 93, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2023, with her daughter Janet holding her hand and singing her favorite songs.

Dolores was born April 26, 1930, with her twin brother Eddie. Weighing only 4 pounds and a few ounces, she showed the world from the start that she was tough, resilient, and a survivor. She and her twin were welcomed into the world by her Polish immigrant parents, Nicholas Kwaczenik and Mary Jazownik Kwaczenik, older sisters, Stella, Helen, and Leona, and older brother, Ray. Like her siblings, she was a first generation American. She was very patriotic and at the same time extremely proud of her Polish heritage.

Dolores grew up on the West side of Great Falls. She said it was the best of times because they had so much fun, and life was simple; it was the worst of times because it was the Depression.

Dolores was very shy and stuck close to her twin, Eddie. She attended Franklin School through 8th grade then was a proud Great Falls HS Bison from the Class of 1948. She loved the high school business classes.

Dolores’s childhood was shattered at 9 years old when her father died of cancer. Soon after his death, she began babysitting to help earn money for the family. In high school, she worked at Dixon’s Neighborhood Grocery. Shortly before graduation one of her business teachers got her a job at First National Bank. She continued to work at the bank on and off between 1948 and 1977, while raising her family. Mom never considered herself brainy because she didn’t go to college, but she was very smart and was sharp to the very end.

Her final job was as a clerk and assistant buyer at Beckman’s clothing store until she retired in 1992. She loved clothes and enjoyed helping others choose clothes that made them look good. She was always a very classy dresser, passing on that trait to her granddaughter, Zoie.

Dolores was a lifelong Catholic who found much comfort in her faith. She attended St. Joseph’s Church (which her father helped build), Holy Family, and St. Ann’s. She was a Charter Member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. There, she was a member of the Altar Society, served as bookkeeper, and volunteered in a variety of ways for many years. Her final church home was Holy Spirit. When she became housebound and couldn’t attend Mass, she nurtured her faith with Mass and the Rosary on TV.

In 1973, Dolores’s oldest sister and best friend Stella died unexpectedly. A few years later, her mother Mary passed away.

In the early ’50s, she met Marine Corps veteran (WWII and Korea) Ronald J. Rice. They married in 1952 and remained together for 44 years until Ron passed away in 1996. Together they had four children, Nancy Jean, Christopher Ronald, Janet Mary, and Lisa Ann.

Then in 1984, Dolores and Ron endured the soul-crushing loss of their oldest child, Nancy, at 30 years old. They were never quite the same after her death, but they persevered until they could be happy again.

Dolores’s greatest joy in her later years was her two granddaughters. Zoie Abigail was born in 1996 only days after Ron passed away. Molly Jean arrived 3 1/2 years later in 1999. She was the happiest grandma on earth. And no grandkids on earth were loved more by their grandma.

Dolores had an active life until the last few years. In addition to her many church activities, she was active in Chris’s Boy Scout troops and the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce, including Blue Coats and Military Affairs Committee.

She had 20 years of monthly lunches with Beckman’s retired staff as well as many lunches with the GFHS Class of ’48, where she took an active role in planning all the reunions. She helped care for her sister Leona, who spent 30 years in a nursing home. She never missed a chance to root for the GFHS Bison and UM Grizzlies.

She loved golf, horseback riding, cruises, and trips to Hawaii. She often traveled to Florida to visit Lisa. She sent dozens of Christmas cards to family and friends until 2021. She and Ron loved to dance at the Elks, the Iron Pine, with the Fortnightly club, or anywhere “the Partnership” was playing.

Dolores loved music and singing, even though she made up her own words (much to the amusement of her family) and often said she couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. A fanatical clean freak, she took pride in her immaculate house and yard.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ron; daughter, Nancy; son-in-law, Mark McGarity; sisters and twin brother.

She is survived by son, Chris Rice (Tracy Goodness); daughters, Janet Rice-Koostra (Bob Koostra) and Lisa McGarity; granddaughters, Zoie Koostra Newman (Ethan Newman) and Molly Koostra; brother, Ray Kenik; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the physicians and staff at Great Falls Clinic, especially Dr. Lake and Dr. Bryant and their staff, Breanna from Benefis Palliative Care, Kathleen and staff of Medallion Hospice, and the staff at Highgate Senior living. She loved you all.

Her friends called her Dodie. Her nieces and nephews called her Dee Dee. Her grandkids called her Dot. We called her Mom. You were a fantastic mom and we were lucky to have you for so many years. We will miss you forever but are so happy you are now at peace. Blessed rest, Sweet Mom. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Electric City Lions Club (c/o of 1025 17th Ave SW, Great Falls, MT 59404) or St. Ann’s Kitchen (715 3rd Ave N., Great Falls, MT 59401).

A memorial service will be held in October.