He mattered!
To Rusty's best friend for 54 years, Bethalynn always loved him with everything she had and went along with all their adventures and various moves! To his daughter, Krista (Augie), the apple of his eye, who shared his love of cooking, fishing, and hunting and he taught her how to train horses, ride and dance! Rusty went down the last stretch of the trail with his hunting partner, Krista, beside him taking care of him to the end on his 70th birthday. To his granddaughter, Samantha (Kevin) who cherished the memories of her childhood adventures with him, she was always grandpa's girl from camping to fishing to riding horses to cooking! To his great granddaughter, Eowyn, the little fiesty red haired clone who tried to get her teeth out of her mouth just like grandpa who also taught her how to wink, his cute great granddaughter, McKenna, and the next great yet to be born this month.

He also leaves behind his brother Riley (Kim); sisters Joyann, Margaret, Janie, Myrna (Jim), Marcella (Jack), Elaine (Gary), and Dena (Jack); plus his other family, brother Kerry; and sisters Mary (Farley), Laurel (Garth), and Colleen (Wayne). Plus 124 nieces and nephews, as well as Aunts Joyce, Lois, and Anne, and Uncle Hardy and Bernice, and lots of cousins! He was predeceased by his parents Ed and Shirley, his in laws Kris and Dorothy Arnason, and many more.

We could be called hoarders, he does have one pair of socks that are 50 years old, but the hordes of friends and family that we have is the best of all and also mattered! One friend said thanks for the many memories, your music, your humour, your laughs, and the best hugs ever! And another; I'd like to thank the both of you for our time in life together. Rusty rest easy and take the reins. It’s been a wild ride over the years. Sleep easy my friend I’ll see you on the other side. Thanks for the memories!

From his beautiful caring nurse: My heart is with you and your family. Thank you for the humour and honesty and time you have spent with me in this space. Thank you for your kindness and interest in my sons. It has been a gift to me to spend time with Beth and your daughter, who have shown up in this time with so much love and care. I hope I can show the same when life calls on me to be brave. Relationships and families are challenging always. And life is full of ups and downs. This is the journey we are all on. And you have obviously done some things right to have these two beautiful people show up with so much courage right now. I'm thinking of you. I have love for you all.

As our pretend adopted son (he really does have great parents who are good friends), said that Rusty taught him more than skills. He taught him patience, respect, pride in honest work, and how to carry yourself with quiet strength. Those lessons stayed with him long after the dust settled and the days moved on. He still find himself thinking of Rusty whenever he smells leather, hears the creak of a saddle, or watches a good horse at work, to hear a finely tuned guitar, a good bluegrass song and laughter from friends who knew him so well.

Please know that Rusty's impact reached far beyond what he may have realized. He is deeply grateful for the time, care, and wisdom Rusty shared so freely, and he will carry that with him for the rest of his life.

He wore a lot of hats in his life besides being a family man. He was a talented musician and singer, artist, leather worker, cook, hunter, hunting guide, horse trainer, gardener, raised dogs, sheep and chickens, fisherman, welder, lawn care guy, window installer, golfer, etc. We like to believe that when his ride here is done, he’ll find his eternal rest in cowboy heaven - wide open country, good horses, bountiful hunting grounds and peace at last.

The dust settles, but the tracks remain.

Dally up cowboy.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mozart Sympawthy Animal Sanctuary.

Cherished Memories is honoured to be entrusted with Mr. Rusch's care and arrangements.