Ellen Rustad

Funeral services for Ellen Rustad, 95, of Baker, will be 10:00 a. m. , Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT with Pastor Bruce and Reba Kolasch officiating. Burial will take place in Bonnievale Cemetery. Ellen passed away Friday, May 20, 2016 at Fallon Medical Complex, Baker, MT. Ellen Rustad was born January 25, 1921 at Baker, the daughter of Albert and Ethel (Brownson) Gustafson. She grew up on the family farm southwest of Baker and attended Baker schools, graduating in 1939. She managed to find a couple part time jobs, one was secretary at the USDA office where she met a young man from the Ollie area named Ralph Rustad who was measuring crops. It was the beginning of a long friendship. That fall she went to work at the Treasurer’s office. She worked there until 1943 when she moved to Portland, Oregon and joined her sister Marie, working in the shipyards. After the war ended, Ellen returned to Baker and went to work at the Treasurer’s office becoming County Treasurer for a short time. On March 3, 1946, she married Ralph. He bought a farm southeast of Ollie and they began their life together. Ellen and Ralph had two sons, Keith & Brian. Following a series of hard winters, they sold out and moved to Livingston. Ralph leased a ranch south of town and Ellen worked at the treasurer’s office. When they had a chance to buy Loren Bearfield’s ranch, they moved to Baker. Ellen went back to work at the treasurer’s office and later kept books at the hospital. In 1972 they bought a ranch at Silver Star, MT. and moved back to the mountains that fall. Eventually it worked out that they could spend the winter in the mountains and summers at Baker. In 1993, they sold the Silver Star ranch and moved back to the Ollie area. They retired in 2001 and moved to Baker. Ralph died the fall of 2003. Ellen was active in hospital auxiliary and worked at the Pink Touch. She was a lifetime member of the American Lutheran Church and did quilting in her spare time. While in school, Ellen was a member of the high school orchestra and enjoyed playing piano and singing at country dances. Even in her last years in the nursing home, she would play the piano. Ellen is survived by her two sons, Keith and his wife Carla and Brian, all of the Ollie area, and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Ethel Gustafson; husband Ralph; and sisters Marie Rutherford and Anna Mae Schweigert. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT.


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Burial Date: May 25, 2016
Church American Lutheran Church

Funeral Service: Wednesday: American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT