Eminent Homemaker
County: Bennett
Dorothy Rice, Tuthill, is a champion for the cause of education and community culture in western South Dakota, Bennett County in particular. As an educator and civic worker she has already received nation-wide recognition. In 1961 she was named to Who’s Who Among American Women. In 1957 she was named Bennett County Woman of the Year.
A native of Nebraska, she received her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern and her Master’s from the University of Nebraska. In 1926 she married Donald Rice.
She taught rural school from 1935 to 1939, then served six years as Bennett County Superintendent of Schools. She resigned to serve on the Board of Education and played a significant role in raising the accreditation standards of Martin High School. By 1954 it was known as one of the top 10 in South Dakota.
Rice helped introduce a South Dakota law that guarantees operating funds for all public libraries. She was president of the Bennett County Library Board, an officer of the South Dakota Librarian Trustees Association and a member of the first board of directors of American Library Association.
In addition to library and educational work Rice taught piano and violin to area youngsters for over 30 years, and has been active in the Tuthill Community Presbyterian Church serving as organist, Sunday school superintendent, and teacher for at least 10 years. For eight years she served as a summer Bible camp counselor for teenagers. She was equally active in the women’s organization of the church, holding both local and regional posts. She helped organize the Tuthill Extension Club, and a chapter of the Eastern Star in Martin in 1938. She joined a BEO Federated Study Club in 1940.
The Rices had three sons, James a Presbyterian minister in Chicago, Illinois; Alan, who manages the Rice ranch; and Charles, who died in 1947. All received college training.
The Rice family enjoys doing and sharing things together. Rice’s award, like most of her activities, will undoubtedly be considered as “a Rice family affair.”