Cleo Mildred Rice, age 83 years, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Golden Living Westwood, Clinton, Missouri. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 25, at 10:00 AM, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Clinton. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 PM Tuesday, May 24, with Rosary at 6:00PM, at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton. Interment will follow at Englewood Cemetery, Clinton. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Holy Rosary Church-building fund and may be left in care of the funeral home. Fond memories and condolences may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Cleo was born on October 26, 1932, in Montrose, Missouri to Frank and Mary (Kleor) Lesmeister. She retired from Clearfield Cheese after 37 years, and also was a greeter at Walmart. She enjoyed helping Don haul hay in the summers. She also enjoyed caring for the yard, gardening, and taking care of the housework. Cleo also volunteered at the Pork Chop Tent at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia and Ozark Fair in Springfield. Cleo was a member of Holy Rosary Church where she participated in the Holy Rosary Alter Society. She and Don were also members of the Elite Advantage Club at Hawthorne Bank.

She is preceded in death by her parents Frank and Mary (Kleor) Lesmeister, 5 brothers; Basil, Virgil, Clem, Richard, and Raymond Lesmeister, 2 sisters; Eunice Rotert and Agnes Westhusing, 2 nieces and 3 nephews.

Among survivors are her husband Donald G. Rice of the home, and son Allen Rice of Independence, Missouri,2 sister-in-laws, Kathleen Lesmeister of Kansas City, Missouri, and Aladene Lesmeister of Montrose, Missouri, along with several other family members. She will be greatly missed by all.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.