Walden J. Rice was the eldest son of lohn H. and
Sadie Marie Rice.

He was born in Stockdale, Ohio in 1896 and came to
Alberta about 1909 with his parents. He attended
Magrath Schools and after he was grown he worked for
his uncle George Culp who farmed in the Bradshaw area.
George Culp owned one of the few steam engines in the
country and used to break up much of the prairie in the
Spring Coulee district.

Walden became a licensed steam engineer and operated
the engine in breaking sod and custom threshing until
1927.

In 1921 Walden married Mildred L. Clark of Warner and
they leased two sections of the Perry Estate near Bradshaw.
They farmed this land until they retired. Walden was always
interested in baseball and played on teams from both Spring
Coulee and Magrath. He coached a junior team to league
championship in 1940 and 1941.

Mildred was active in community affairs in both Magrath
and Spring Coulee. She was very active in the United
Church, having served on the governing committees and
also a leader of the women's groups for many years.

The Rices had four sons who attended Magrath and
Bradshaw schools. All the boys played baseball and at
one time all were on the same team.

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