Ruan Elizabeth Franse 

Notes 

Wednesday, December 23, 1936 

Mrs. Ruan Rice Dies 

Member of Pioneer Buchanan County, Family 

Succumbs at Age of Eighty-Five at Home of Walter D. Ladd, Grandson 

Mrs. Ruan E. Rice, eighty-five years old, died this morning at the home 
of her grandson, Walter D. Ladd, 2404 Felix street, following a long 
illness. She had lived most of her life in and near St. Joseph. She was 
a daughter of Robert H and Amanda J. Frans and was born March 6, 
1851 near Agency, then known as Agency Ford. She was married there to 
John Ritchie, who at the time was serving as a guard and driver on 
the covered wagons making the long trip west over the Oregon trail. 
They later lived many years in St. Joseph and then in Oklahoma, where 
Mr. Ritchie died some years ago. 

Mrs. Ritchie married Mr. Ritchie's brother, Jim Ritchie, and after 
his death married Elam Rice in Oklahoma. Since Mr. Rice's death about 
fifteen years ago, she has made her home with her grandson here and 
with a niece in Kansas City. 

She is also survived by her daughters, Mrs. Fred H. Ladd of Kansas 
City, widow of the later Dr. Fred H. Ladd of St. Joseph and by the 
following three grandchildren, Mrs. Helen Koester, Jr of Travelers 
Rest, S. C.; Mrs. Fred Babbitt of Kansas City and Louis J. Weber of 
Boone, IA; two sisters, Mrs. Sterling Vestal, St. Joseph and 
Mrs. Carrie Walkup of Rock Port, Mo; and three stepbrothers, 
R. N. Frans, Auburn, Neb; James H. Frans and William T. Frans, former 
county judge of St. Joseph. Seventeen great 
grandchildren survive. 

The funeral will be tomorrow afternoon at Fleeman's chapel. Burial will be 
in Ashland Cemetery.