Dixie J. Rice Detweiler

Dixie J. Rice Detweiler 67, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, November 11, with her family by her side at CHI Health St. Francis, Grand Island.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 15 at the Berean Bible Church in Grand Island, with the Rev. Scott Friesen officiating. Visitation hours will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, November 14 at Apfel Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Chapman Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Berean Bible Church. Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family.

Dixie was born on March 27, 1947, in Grand Island, Nebraska the daughter of Mildred Irene (Powell) Rice and Ralph Vernon Rice, Jr. She was the first of five children and was raised on the family farm in Chapman. She attended District 39 Elementary, Chapman Elementary and Central City High School.

Upon graduation from high school, Dixie attended Business College in Memphis, Tennessee. After a year in Business College, she entered flight attendant school in Chicago, Illinois and became a flight attendant for United Airlines, making it her career for the next 40 years. Dixie had a yearning to return to Nebraska and in 1992, she relocated to Chapman to be with her family. It was here that she met the love of her life, Ed Detweiler. Ed and Dixie were united in marriage in November of 1994. They purchased a farm and lived west of Chapman.

To say that Dixie will be dearly missed is an understatement. She left an indelible mark on each and everyone of her family. You could always count on Dixie to remember a birthday or anniversary and she had an amazing ability to find the right card or gift that made you realize she had just you in mind. Dixie loved the Christmas holiday and she took such delight in watching everyone open their goodies and the expression on their faces. Dixie was one that truly found the joy in giving rather than receiving. She also enjoyed watching Nebraska football, especially with her brother and the rest of the family gathered close by. With binoculars in hand, Dixie would spend hours watching the squirrels and the birds outside of her bay window. We will all dearly miss her animated and slightly exaggerated stories of Mr. Squirrel and the laughter that would follow her tales.

In 2010, Dixie began attending Berean Bible Church which became a second family to her. In a short amount of time, she found much joy in the relationships she had built while attending there. Every Wednesday, Dixie would meet with another second family-her weight watcher friends. Within the past year, she was delighted to be able to reunite with an old family friend. Several times a week, Dixie would spend time with her, playing bingo and just reliving the past, which meant a lot to her, for she would talk of their time often. But, perhaps the biggest joy of Dixies life was her nieces and nephews. Dixie took such deep and genuine interest in each of them. Never was she too busy or too distracted to listen to their lifes latest happenings. Each and everyone in turn loved Aunt Dixie. She was a precious gift given to us for too short a time, we will all cherish the memories that she left us.

Dixie was preceded in death by her dearly loved Father and Mother and her precious husband, Ed Detweiler.

She is survived by one son, T.J. Carroll of Iowa, three brothers and their wives: Chuck and Mary Lynne Rice of Arkansas, Russ and Lora Rice of Chapman, Brad and Mary Rice of Elkhorn, and one sister, Tena Davis of Chapman.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com