Daniel Jesse Rife

Daniel Jesse Rife, age 90, of Stratton, NE passed away on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at his home in Stratton.

Daniel was born May 21, 1928 in Stratton to parents Thomas D. and Lena M. (Gardner) Rife.  Daniel was one of two children who grew up in Stratton, attended school and graduating from Stratton High School with the Class of 1946.

Following high school, Daniel enlisted in the United States Army.  He proudly served his country as a Corporal during the Korean War.  Daniel received the following medals; Combat Infantry Badge, United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal.  He was honorably discharged in 1952.

On June 17, 1953, Daniel married the love of his life, Rawleyce Ionne (West) Rife in Cheyenne, WY.  The couple was blessed with six children.  The family made their home outside of Stratton where Daniel farmed.

In 1937, Daniel joined the United Methodist Church in Stratton.  Over the years, he served as a church board member and treasurer, and also enjoyed singing in the choir.  He was a member of the Robert Burns Lodge 173, the McCook Lodge 135, the McCook York Rite Bodies, the Tehama Shrine, the Eastern Star in Benkelman, Holly Chapter 233, Eureka Chapter 86 in McCook, the American Legion and the VFW Post in Stratton.  He served as a school board member for the Stratton School District for twelve years and was also a Rose Hill Cemetery Board Member.

Daniel was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rawleyce Rife; granddaughter, Larrissa Dawn Rife; brother in laws, Rev. Robert Wiedrich, Arwyn West, Richard May and Bob Dahnke; and brother in laws and sister in laws, Ron and Julie West and Warren and Melba Richter.

Those left to celebrate his life include his two sons, Don (Melba) Rife of Stratton, NE and Dan (Sovia) Rife, Jr. of Schaumburg, Ill; four daughters, Becky (Mike) Evers of Kearney, NE, Debra (LaMoine) Guinn of Oberlin, KS, Brenda (Jon) Donohue of McCook and Mary (Gregg) Boone of Elizabeth, CO; sister, Alice Wiedrich of Decatur, Ill; sister in laws, Lois May, Mary Ellen Dahnke and Lois West; grandchildren, Michelle Warren, Tim Evers, Sarah Drackley, Jarrod Leggott, Thomas Rife, Brooke Hubl, Chad Rooney, Carrie Ebert, Lindsay Dunagan, Laurie Donohue, Shannon Donohue, Tyler Donohue, Visca Rife, Aaron Rife, Jed Boone and Wes Boone; twenty great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.