Rapid City - Rapid City - Robert Rice Jr., 74 of Rapid City died Monday July 12th, 2010 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital Auxilary Hospice House. On May 10, 1936 Robert and Mary Rice welcomed the first of eight children into the world. Robert L Rice Jr. was born and lived in Cleveland, Ohio until he joined the United States Air Force as a teenager. He served with pride and dignity, serving twice in Vietnam, and served tours in several other countries before being assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base in 1973. His military career in the fire department was one he loved and was respected in. After he retired in 1977, he took a supervisory position with the civilian contractor at the Bandit Inn. He formed many special relationships with those who worked with him there. Those friends both admired and respected him, as he did them. The last contractor he was actively employed with at the Bandit Inn was Black Hills Workshop. He made good friends in that organization as well. Rice as he liked to be called, loved fishing, camping, being with friends and family, his natural children and grandchildren, and those he called his children. He was always a favorite with everyones children. He retired and lived in Rapid City. He is survived by his two natural children, Ebony Rice (Marty Afraid of Lightning) and Robert III (Thalia) Rice; their mother, Tami, his grandchildren, Ivan, Elijah, Dayana, Tyra, Tamera, Emanual, and Ethan; other children, Roland Kolb, Clovis, California, James Rice, Rapid City and Chauncaiya Caldwell, Spearfish; his father, Robert (Mary) Rice, Maple Heights, Ohio; his sisters, Mary Louise, Geraldine, Jeanette an Madeline all of Cleveland, Ohio; a brother, Donald and his family, Cleveland, Ohio; very special friend, Shirley Caldwell and her family; special friends, Johnny Lowe, Carl Dixon, Tom Miller, Willie Rhodes, James Squires, and Richard Hern, these guys meant a lot to him; he had a special place in his heart for DeeAnn Clark and Lorraine Shermont who he had known for many years. He was a man full of love and generosity, and all who knew him, liked him or loved him. He will remain forever in our hearts. Forever missed and forever loved. He was preceded in death by this mother, Mary; two brothers, Clarence and Michael and a daughter, Cheryl Lynn. Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Monday, July 19, 2010 with a visitation one hour prior to services at the Rapid City Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 4703 South Canyon Road with Pastor Clarence McKee officiating. Burial with military honors by Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis at 12:00 P.M. A memorial has been established.