Daniel Rice

Daniel “Danny” Lee Rice, Jr. was born in Paintsville, Kentucky on October 6, 1956. He passed away at his home in Murray, Utah on December 14, 2020. Danny loved to regale his grandkids with stories about the adventures Lee used to drag him on. The Rice family moved westward and settled in Rock Springs, Wyoming when Danny was young. He moved around a little bit and enjoyed a stint as a farmer, which helped shape his lifelong passion to keep all sorts of barn animals on his property in suburban Murray (animals he had to somehow keep out of his wife’s giant vegetable garden or he would certainly hear about it).










One night in 1974, Danny met the love of his life, Jane. Danny always said Jane was the most beautiful woman he ever saw. On November 5, 1976, Jane made an honest man out of Danny and took his last name, Rice. Danny made Jane laugh every day whether it be from his cheeky jokes or from him trying to warm his ice-cold hands on her sides as she screeched and tried to run away.










Danny and Jane enjoyed many adventures throughout their marriage and life together. They took a road trip on Danny’s Harley with their motorcycle group and they traveled all over with their kids to see family and friends in different states. Jane’s favorite memory of Danny was taking a trip to the Grand Canyon. They hiked down into the canyon and walked across a suspension bridge and had to wait on the bank of the Colorado River for the rafts that would take them on their 7-day escapade. They took a rafting trip with very intelligent friends who knew to tie the beer to the rafts to keep it cold in the water. Not all heroes wear capes.










Their favorite place, though, was sitting on their back patio.










Danny also became a stepfather to two little girls, who he took on many adventures throughout their childhood. Earlier this year, Danny and Jane had the joy of their daughter Trudi moving in with them. They quickly formed their cute routines and habits but the household favorites were when Danny would make mid-morning tea for Trudi and morning coffee for Jane.










On July 26, 1978, Jane gave birth to their only son, Ryin Daniel. Danny and Ryin were best friends as Ryin grew up and Danny had a new miniaturized partner-in-crime. Danny delighted in pranks and he raised his son under the same belief system – everyone was fair game… except for Jane.










Other than being a prankster, Danny had a great personality and was truly one-of-a-kind. His humor knew no bounds – just ask the three steer he bought and named Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner – and his heart was big enough to encompass everyone he knew. He enjoyed many activities when he wasn’t working hard at Hi Grades. You could usually find Danny camping with his family, hunting or fishing with friends, golfing with beer, smoking his tobacco pipe on the patio, or watching black and white Westerns. He has John Wayne above the mantle, you know.










Danny worked for 34 years at Hi Grades Meats. He worked in various roles but loved his time “managing the sausage house” the most. That man knew everything you ever wanted to know about meat. He knew his way around a cow and a pig like you wouldn’t believe.










Though he enjoyed his work, Danny’s heart really belonged to his life-long habit of tinkering. He loved to tinker in the giant garage/shop  that his granddaughter referred to as, “Grandpa’s house,” as a child.










In 1991, Danny became a grandpa to Casey , a little boy with a shock of black hair who loved to smile. The following year a chubby-cheeked and chattering Brianna  joined the grandchildren crew. In 1995, an adorable Torrey with the cutest laugh came along. In 1998, the adventurous and yoda-esque Seth entered the scene. In 2003, Grace made her grand entrance a bit early and captivated us all with those big, blue eyes. In 2006, Miranda came in as the adorable yet terrifying final grandchild that had everyone wrapped around her little “sassypants” finger.










Danny became a great-grandfather in 2011 to Eli Nicholas, an incredibly bright child with the best imagination. When Casey  married Kyra, Danny gained another great-grandson in Bradyn, a sassy but deeply understanding little boy. He was also incredibly proud of his gaggle of “grand-puppies” that his grandchildren brought into the family over the years, including the three extra dogs that his grandson-in-law Tyler somehow snuck in and the fluffball his granddaughter-in-law Shaley brought over to entertain them with during the summertime.










Family meant everything to Danny and he adored his grandchildren. Every time his grandsons ran out the back door he’d yell out, “See you later, son! Love you!” His granddaughters were lovingly called honey. He never stopped playing with the grandkids and he never slowed down with his pranks.










Danny is preceded in death by his parents, Shirley Middleton and Daniel Lee Rice, Sr., his brothers Leroy “Lee” and Ernest “Ernie” and his sister Gretchen “Sissy.” Danny was also preceded in death by his beloved son, Ryin, his son-in-law, Mondell, his in-laws, Hal “Poppee” & Margaret Meyerhoffer, and his life-long friend and co-father of their daughters, Charles “Chuck” Seaman. He’s been reunited with all the dogs and furry friends he’s had throughout his life, including Hashbrown, Jetta, and Ruby.










Danny is survived by his beautiful wife, Jane, and his daughter, Trudi. His legacy lives on in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren Casey (Kyra), Brianna (Tyler), Torrey (Shaley), Seth, Gracie, Miranda, Eli, and Bradyn. He is survived by his sister, Anya, his brother, John, his daughter, Tina, and his nephews, CJ and Josh.










Danny told the best stories about his childhood, his pranks, his mischief, his career, his coworkers, and his family. He laughed the hardest at his own jokes and always smiled as wide as he could. He look forward to Sundays as he knew when the back gate would open Casey, Kyra and Bradyn were there for their weekly visit. He grew his hair out multiple times throughout his life (most recently this year after promising his grandson Torrey) and grew his goatee to intense lengths, which his granddaughter Brianna was always happy to braid and put neon hair bands in. He had a steady way about him and he was a great comfort to anyone who needed it. There wasn’t a single person who knew Danny who didn’t love him immensely.










In the end, we all become stories. We become the stories we tell and we become stories of the adventures we had with the ones we loved. Danny was the greatest story ever written and everyone who knew and loved him will tell his story for a very long time.










A viewing will be held on Tuesday December 22, 2020 from 5:30-7:30pm at Memorial Murray Mortuary at 5850 South 900 East, Murray, Utah 84121.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date next year.










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Service Information
Viewing December 22, 2020 at 5:30-7:30 PM
5850 South 900 East, Murray, UT 84121