Obituary for Marjorie Hall Rice
Marjorie Hall Rice, 101, formerly of 158 Benedict Road, Pittsfield, passed away peacefully in Bellevue, Washington on February 1, 2022.
Marjorie was born in 1920 in Forty-Fort, Pennsylvania to George Wilbur and Ruth Ellsworth Nichols. In 1946, she married Theodore (“Ted”) Hall and moved to Pittsfield where Ted worked as an electrical engineer at General Electric. Ted passed away suddenly in 1976. Together, they raised three children who survive them: Christopher W. Hall and daughter-in-law Ellen Hall of Roseville, CA, Carol Anne Hall of Fairfax, VA, and Cynthia Jean Hall of Redmond, WA, as well as two grandsons, Scott Hall and Seth Hall, three great grandsons, Jeremiah, Levi and Nathan and a step great granddaughter, Harper. Marjorie was preceded in death by her sister, Josephine Besecker and three brothers, Sheldon, Allan and George (Bill) Jr.
In 2005, Marjorie married Harold B. Rice and relocated to Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania with her new husband. Harold passed away in 2011, at which time Marjorie relocated to Bellevue, Washington to be near family. She is also survived by Harold’s children and their families: Ellen and Joseph Carey of Montoursville, PA, Sally and William Sorber of Corning, N.Y., Susan and Stephen Wenner of Mifflinburg, PA and Marjorie and David Wonderlich of South Williamsport, PA.
Marjorie was employed from 1975 until 1988 at the Berkshire Museum, serving as Office Manager, Assistant to the Director and Museum Registrar. Following her retirement from the Berkshire Museum, Marjorie worked as a volunteer with the curatorial staff at the Norman Rockwell Museum from 1993 to 2005.
Marjorie studied classical piano and pursued a life-long avocation of painting. As an artist, she worked in oils and pastels, won first prize in shows of the Pittsfield Art League and the Stephentown Arts and Crafts Show and exhibited her work in many settings. She also spent many happy hours tending to her beautiful flower gardens and koi pond.
For over fifty years, Marjorie was an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. In 1986 she served as Massachusetts President of the League of American Pen Women and hosted the League's national convention in Boston. She was a Camp Fire leader and Cub Scout den mother. She also volunteered with the Elizabeth Freeman Center, the Girls Club, Pittsfield Beautiful, and Big Sisters of America. She was recognized by Dale Carnegie as an outstanding public speaker.
Marjorie was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church throughout her sixty years in Pittsfield. Known for her striking beauty, eternal optimism and great enjoyment of life, she was loved and admired by family, friends and colleagues and will be sorely missed.
Services will be private, with internment in Pittsfield Cemetery.
Marjorie was born in 1920 in Forty-Fort, Pennsylvania to George Wilbur and Ruth Ellsworth Nichols. In 1946, she married Theodore (“Ted”) Hall and moved to Pittsfield where Ted worked as an electrical engineer at General Electric. Ted passed away suddenly in 1976. Together, they raised three children who survive them: Christopher W. Hall and daughter-in-law Ellen Hall of Roseville, CA, Carol Anne Hall of Fairfax, VA, and Cynthia Jean Hall of Redmond, WA, as well as two grandsons, Scott Hall and Seth Hall, three great grandsons, Jeremiah, Levi and Nathan and a step great granddaughter, Harper. Marjorie was preceded in death by her sister, Josephine Besecker and three brothers, Sheldon, Allan and George (Bill) Jr.
In 2005, Marjorie married Harold B. Rice and relocated to Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania with her new husband. Harold passed away in 2011, at which time Marjorie relocated to Bellevue, Washington to be near family. She is also survived by Harold’s children and their families: Ellen and Joseph Carey of Montoursville, PA, Sally and William Sorber of Corning, N.Y., Susan and Stephen Wenner of Mifflinburg, PA and Marjorie and David Wonderlich of South Williamsport, PA.
Marjorie was employed from 1975 until 1988 at the Berkshire Museum, serving as Office Manager, Assistant to the Director and Museum Registrar. Following her retirement from the Berkshire Museum, Marjorie worked as a volunteer with the curatorial staff at the Norman Rockwell Museum from 1993 to 2005.
Marjorie studied classical piano and pursued a life-long avocation of painting. As an artist, she worked in oils and pastels, won first prize in shows of the Pittsfield Art League and the Stephentown Arts and Crafts Show and exhibited her work in many settings. She also spent many happy hours tending to her beautiful flower gardens and koi pond.
For over fifty years, Marjorie was an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. In 1986 she served as Massachusetts President of the League of American Pen Women and hosted the League's national convention in Boston. She was a Camp Fire leader and Cub Scout den mother. She also volunteered with the Elizabeth Freeman Center, the Girls Club, Pittsfield Beautiful, and Big Sisters of America. She was recognized by Dale Carnegie as an outstanding public speaker.
Marjorie was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church throughout her sixty years in Pittsfield. Known for her striking beauty, eternal optimism and great enjoyment of life, she was loved and admired by family, friends and colleagues and will be sorely missed.
Services will be private, with internment in Pittsfield Cemetery.