Nancy Whiting Rice

With heavy hearts, the family of Nancy Whiting Rice, 96, of Seattle, WA , announces her peaceful passing on December 17, 2025, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Duluth, Minnesota on September 12, 1929 to Franklin S Rice and Helen Whiting Davis Rice. She was predeceased by her two brothers, Richard (Dick) Rice and Franklin (Skip) Rice. As a child she enjoyed swimming and diving. She also learned to sail on Sunshine Lake, and became an avid tennis player in her teens. In her youth she developed a lifelong love of classical music attending the Symphony and was a long patron of Seattle's KING FM.

Nancy attended Arizona State University and Grinnell College. On a whim in 1955, she moved to Seattle with three other childhood friends from Duluth. These women joined seven other friends from Duluth. Once all relocated to Seattle, they formed the Duluth Ladies. These friendships lasted for over 80 years.

In her early years in Seattle, she enjoyed working for Standard Records in the University District, cultivating her love of music. She married Archibald Lowell Ruprecht, MD in 1962. Though they later divorced, they remained devoted parents to their children David and Wendy. During the childrens' younger years she volunteered and later worked for Clyde Hill Elementary school. Later she worked as a medical assistant as well as a trainer of new hires for Virginia Mason Hospital on First Hill.

She enjoyed skiing in younger days and golfing well into her retirement. In her later years she was a proud member of the LBGT community and spoke occasionally at PFLAG in Bellevue, sharing her story with others in an effort to create avenues of acceptance.

She is survived by her children David Rice Ruprecht, (Marcia Foote) of Midvale, UT; and Wendy Ruprecht Dufay, (Christian Dufay) of Seattle, WA; and grandchildren, Kevin Kilian Rose, Caitlin Rose France, Chris Foote, Anthoney and Madison Panuzio.

At her request no service is scheduled.