Dorene M. Rice was born June 20, 1937, in Dalton, Nebraska, to Harvey and Esther (Ravert) Chorn. She and her twin sister, Lorene, were welcomed to this world by their older sister, Shirley.

As a child, Dorene grew up on a farm/ranch south of Broadwater, Nebraska. She attended elementary grades at country school and graduated from Broadwater High School in 1955. She was married to Don Rice on August 28, 1956, the second couple to be married at the Broadwater Presbyterian Church.To this union, 4 children were born: Kirk, Kim, Kyle, and Karen.

Don and Dorene spent most of their life in the Broadwater area, where they met many lifelong friends, spending their time socializing, having coffee, playing cards, and attending the Saturday night dances. Dorene babysat several children in many communities over the years and served as the secretary of Browns Creek Irrigation District for 38 years. While working at Rushcreek Land and Livestock Company, Dorene cooked hundreds of meals for cowboys, hired men, and hay-crews. In retirement, they enjoyed traveling with friends and family to several destinations, with highlight trips to Branson, Missouri, and London, England.

Dorene was fun-loving and could find any reason to have a celebration. She thoroughly enjoyed holidays, weekends, any time she could get together with her friends and family. She was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Broadwater, served on the Broadwater Cemetery Board and the Broadwater Library Board.

She is surveyed by her children: Kirk (Carolyne) Rice, Kim (Jim) Smith, Kyle (Shelly) Rice, and Karen (Kenny) Davis; 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, with a set of twins on the way.

She was proceeded in death by her husband Don, parents Harvey and Esther Chorn, sisters Shirley Watson and Lorene Stopher.