Marilyn Belle Rice Piepho

SYRACUSE — Marilyn Belle Rice Piepho, 91, passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center in Syracuse, after a long period of declining health.

Born Nov. 4, 1933, in Portville, Marilyn was the daughter of Forest L. Rice and Belle F. Nagel.

She grew up in Portville and graduated from Portville Central School in 1951.

On Jan. 19, 1963, Marilyn married John Burton Piepho at the Portville Presbyterian Church. The couple raised four children: John Jr. (Sheila), Susanna (Rick), Joseph (Sharon) and Candace (Gloria).

They were long-time residents of Central New York. They moved to Olean in 1988 following John’s retirement from General Electric. They shared more than 50 years together until his passing on June 16, 2015.

Faith was central to Marilyn’s life. She was a long-time member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Olean, where she often played the piano and organ for services. She found joy in her relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and in spending time with her family — especially her grandchildren.

She loved playing the piano, singing hymns and pursuing creative interests such as genealogy, writing short stories, poems and memoirs.

She is survived by her children; her grandchildren, Emily, Jacob, Joshua and Amelia Piepho, Erica and Geoffrey Dale and Carissa Geil; her foster sister, Shelley Palmer of Texas; her brother, Richard A. (Donna) Rice of Waverly, Tenn.; and many extended family members and friends.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; and brothers, John R. Rice, Robert E. Rice, James V. Rice and David L. Rice.