The glowing report of Cache Valley reached the ears of Ira and his sons, Asaph and Oscar North, and they moved in 1859, locating in what is now Providence. During the first few weeks, and until logs had been hauled from the canyons for building homes, each pioneer family was sheltered in their wagon boxes. Houses of logs with dirt roofs and rough board floors and with cloth covered windows were soon built. Each house had a fireplace in one end where fires were started with a flint and tinder.

In a local history written by Joel E. Ricks, it is noted that on 29 November 1859, High Priests came together at a meeting and among those from Providence was Ira Rice. By 1866, Providence was a thriving settlement; Ira and Ann were living in comparative comfort. Ira was 73 years of age and his eyesight had been impaired by an infection. When the call came from President Young for volunteers to go on a colonizing mission, called the Muddy or Cotton Mission to the south under the direction of Erastus Snow, Asaph accepted. Ira and his son, Asaph, had remained close associates through the years, living and working together much of the time, so Ira again chose to accompany him on this mission. Reference has been made, though the source is unavailable, that President Young advised Ira and Asaph to return to Cache Valley, rather than continue on to a new settlement in their waning years. But they had already sold their properties in Providence and the lure of the trail won out.

The journey became even more difficult as the desolation of the land was encountered. From a journal of Ephraim Hall, who was with the company called at the same time, we understand that when they reached Ash Creek near St. George, President Snow instructed them to go on 90 miles further South and settle in the Muddy Valley. Most of the company did go directly to the Muddy, but Ira and Asaph, with a few other families, settled at Beaver Dam, now in the state of Arizona. In another journal, William E. Jones wrote:

"On the 23rd of December, 1867, flood waters came down the Beaver Dam Wash and raised to the top of its banks. The next day, the bank where the homes stood, began to cave in. By noon, all had moved their goods from their houses. Some of the houses went in the flood."

The Rices were left homeless. According to several reports, Ira worked so hard helping in the move to higher ground, not just once but two or three times, that he became severely ill as a result of over-exertion and exposure. The story, as told by descendants of Ann's children, relates the fact that Ira never fully recovered from the experience of the flood at Beaver Dam. From the time of the flood in December of 1867 and April of 1868, Ira and Ann moved from the flooded settlement back to Ash Creek near St. George, now known as Washington, Utah. Ira died April 14, 1868, at Washington. Verification of details is found in Ann's application for a War of 1812 widow's pension.

Ira's grave may never have been marked, but if it was, it has long since been obliterated by time. Only through a recent investigation has the location been established and a worthy monument been placed at the site. No pioneer is more deserving of words of praise in his memory. His sacrifices for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in latter days and for the establishment of Zion in the West can be matched only by a few of our pioneers. He left an emulative heritage that can only be compensated by posterity through individual loyalty of faithfulness.