Velma Rice, age 82 from Edwardsville, IL, formerly from Belleville, IL, Red Bud, IL and Tacoma and Parkland WA, Alton, and Wood River, IL, passed away early Sunday Morning on November 24, 2024, due to Dementia complications.
Velma was born on November 16, 1942 in Alton, Madison County, IL to George Kingston Friemann and Frances Hattie Neuhaus. Velma was married to (Otto) John Schiep, Jr. at the age of 19. Velma worked several jobs in her life, starting as a babysitter and the local movie theater. Then she was sent to Beauty School by a brother, where she enjoyed her job until the birth of her daughter. She married (Otto) John Schiep, Jr. at the age of 19. John was in the Air Force. At age 27 they had one daughter, Laura Jean Schliep. They moved to Washington state in 1970, after John returned from the Vietnam War when Laura was 9 months old.
Velma loved art, music, musicals, writing poetry, journaling and learning many homemaker activities in Relief Society, an organization in the LDS Church for women. Here she learned canning, gardening, sewing, childcare, etc. but mostly about the Lord Jesus Christ. Velma had many beloved friends and coworkers, but she loved people more in small groups or 1-on-1. She was very studious her whole life and has read hundreds of books, maybe over 1,000.
After her divorce from John in 1975, she worked many jobs to support her daughter Laura. After some college recreational therapy classes, art classes, and then library science, she met and married (James) Jim Rice where they became apartment managers together for two years. Unfortunately, this marriage did not work either, so she took her daughter back to Illinois to be with her family. Here she focused on Laura, her church, and her main job, working in the Belleville Public Libraries as a library aide and secretary until retirement in 2008.
After retirement, Velma continued to practice art, piano, write poetry, wrote a play, sang in the ward and stake choirs of her church, visited with friends, spent time with her cats, family and daughter. They went on many vacations together. Velma loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and worshiped and served in the Church with many of her family and friends. Jobs in her church were many including: primary teacher, Primary President, Singles representative, Relief Society Teacher, chorister, genealogy technician and many others over her lifetime.
Velma was predeceased by her mother, Frances Hattie Neuhaus and her father, George Kingston Friemann listed above. Also, her brothers Friemann: Harold George William and wife Wilma Lea Ragsdale, Eugene, Stanley Robert and wife Patricia Ann Cross, Homer Lee and wife Ellarie Kay Johnson, and Dwight Merle Friemann and wife Virginia Lee Fite. Also, her brother-in-law Kenneth Loren Day. Velma’s mother also had infant twins who passed away at birth, supposedly.
Velma is survived by her sister JoAnn Florence Friemann (Day), her daughter Laura Jean Schliep (Barnard), her son-in-law Michael David Barnard, her grandchildren Dustan Barnard and wife Whitney Anderson, Dominic Barnard and wife Elizabeth Cole, Sierra Barnard and Daniel Barnard; her two great granddaughters Ashlynn and JJ (Jaqueline) Barnard, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Velma is known by her dry quirky humor, her kind service to family, church and other organizations. Having had a difficult childhood, she was very proud of her family and their accomplishments. She especially loved her son in law, Michael, for his Christ-like service to Velma, her daughter and grandchildren. Velma is very loved and will be sorely missed.
Funeral Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel.
Location: 2250 S. State Route 157, Edwardsville, IL 62025. (Alt. GPS entry – HWY 157)
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024.
Time: Viewing will be from 4-6 p.m. Funeral to follow at 6:30. p.m.
Flowers can be sent to Irwin Chapel Funeral Home, Glen Carbon, IL 62034, www.irwinchapel.com
Humanitarian Donations: philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services/
