OBITUARY: FLORENCE CHURNESS RUST
The funeral service for Florence Churness Rust of Albert Lea, Minnesota will 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, with the Reverend Clark Cary officiating. The burial and fellowship for family and friends will follow at Oakland Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea.
Florence Rust 83, of Albert Lea, died Friday (October 7, 2005) at St. John?s Lutheran Home where she was a resident for four years.
Florence Churness was born June 6, 1922, in Mt. Sterling, Wisconsin, to John and Malena (Olson) Churness, and graduated from Gays Mills High School. She graduated in the class of 1943 from Fairview Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis, MN. On June 21, 1944, she married Reverend Obert A. Rust at Mr. Sterling Lutheran Church. She and Pastor Rust served parishes in Gays Mills, WI, Spring Grove, MN, Oakland, Moscow and Albert Lea, MN, and Estherville, IA. Florence enjoyed directing children?s choir and teaching Sunday School. She was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church, and its choir and WELCA. As a registered nurse she enjoyed working in private duty nursing in Minneapolis, college health service nursing at Luther College, Decorah, IA, hospital nursing at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis and Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, and long-term care nursing at St. John?s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. She also enjoyed water aerobics, walking, cooking and baking, hosting guests, being with her family and friends, and watching her grandchildren grow and achieve.
Survivors include her husband, Obert Rust; two daughters, Rachel (David) Carl of Rochester, and Lois (Steve) Malepsy of Litchfield; three sons, Stephen (Rene?) of Cleveland, John (Addie) of Clarks Grove, and Eric (Brenda) of Forest City, IA; grandchildren, Aaron and Travis Rust, Jon, David and Brian Malepsy, Michael Carl, Daniel and Andrew Rust, Katie Rust, Brandon and Barry Cech; great-grandchildren, Ellie and Henry Rust. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister and brother.
Friends may call from 5p.m. to 8p.m. Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, and an hour before the service Tuesday at Ascension Lutheran Church.