Gudrun "Trudy" Rice

Gudrun “Trudy” Louise Larsen Rice, age 87, of Long Grove, passed away on March 26, 2025.

Born to Abel and Molly Larsen, Norwegian immigrants, Trudy was a devoted daughter who stopped by her mother’s side every day after school, always asking, “What can I do for you today?”

Trudy graduated from Lovett Elementary School, Steinmetz High School, and Chicago Teachers College. She went on to earn two Master’s degrees—one in Speech from Northeastern Illinois University and another in Early Childhood Education from Roosevelt University.

Trudy dedicated 50 years of her life to teaching for the Chicago Board of Education. Over the years, she taught kindergarten through fourth grade, but her heart belonged to kindergarten. She instilled a love of reading through phonics and little books, inspired her students with art and music, and motivated them with monthly pizza parties as a reward for effort and good behavior.

In July 1965, Trudy married the love of her life, James “Jim” Gregory Rice. They were happily married for 55 years. Jim, who worked for the United States Railroad Retirement Board, completed his college education during evening hours while working full-time. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from DePaul University and a Master’s degree in Business from Roosevelt University. One of the family’s proudest moments was when Jim passed the rigorous 2½-day CPA exam.

Together, Trudy and Jim raised one son, Andrew James Rice, in Des Plaines, Illinois. Andy grew up attending Des Plaines Bible Church, where he was active in Sunday School and AWANA. As a family, they traveled to all 50 U.S. states and visited many National Parks.

A highlight of their travels was a deeply meaningful visit to Norway, where they explored both sides of Trudy’s family heritage. They spent a week with Molly’s family in Tjora Sola, near Stavanger, where Molly once sold vegetables in the town square. Then they journeyed to Abel’s family farm on an island near Bergen. When their boat arrived at 6 a.m., they were greeted by a pier full of relatives and friends from Abel’s school days. At breakfast, his siblings joined hands to welcome him home. As Abel revisited the homes of old classmates, it seemed every doorstep had a cat or kitten waiting to say hello. The family continued their journey aboard a small mail boat that sailed along Norway’s coast, stopping at many towns and villages.

In her later years, one of Trudy’s greatest joys was getting to know her only granddaughter, Kali, and Kali’s husband, Gary. The couple met at Western Washington University and now live in the Seattle area. Kali teaches high school special education, and Gary is an engineer. Though they lived more than 2,000 miles away, their bond with Trudy was strong and cherished.

Trudy is survived by her only child, Andrew, and his wife, Anna, as well as her three grandchildren, Kali and her husband Gary, and grandsons, Joseph and Aaron. In addition, she leaves behind good neighbors, Ann Marie and Steve Santowski and Willette and Ron Johnson and Pussycat and many other friends.

A visitation will be held on Friday, April 4, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 941 S. Old Rand Rd., Lake Zurich. Burial will follow at Randhill Park Cemetery in Arlington Heights, where Trudy will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Jimmy.