Irene Rustad

Funeral Services for Ella Irene Rustad, 86, of Baker, MT will be 10:00 a. m. Monday, July 30, 2007 at American Lutheran Church in Baker with Pastors Bruce and Reba Kolasch officiating. Visitation will be 12 noon to 8:00 p. m. Sunday, July 29, 2007 with a Prayer Service at 4:00 p. m. in the Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker. In honoring Irene?s wishes, the casket is closed. Irene passed away on July 25, 2007 at Fallon Medical Complex Nursing Home in Baker. She was diagnosed with cancer in July of 2006, and entered FMC on June 1st. Ella Irene Mendenhall was born July 17, 1921 at Paris, Montana, the daughter of James Charles and Pearl May (Courtney) Mandenhall. Irene was the eighth child of fourteen. She and her brothers and sisters were raised primarily in Miles City. At a very early age she became the second ?mom? in her family, helping raise and care for the other children and working with her parents to maintain order in this very busy home, as well as working part-time outside the home. She loved art and music, and in her teens, entertained over the local Miles City radio station, KATL, singing and playing guitar with one of her sisters. Irene married Albert McCants and to this union was born two sons, Albert James and Ernest LaVern McCants. They divorced, and in March of 1945, she married Kenneth Rustad and moved with her two young sons to Ollie, MT. Their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Thelma, and another son, Allen. Kenneth?s son, Ken Jr. , joined them often in the summer months. She and Kenneth lived and farmed at Ollie for over 50 years, and in December of 1996 moved into Baker. Kenneth passed away in June of 1997. Over the years, along with her dedicated work on the farm, she enjoyed working in retail sales at Lawler Drug and Russell?s Clothing in Baker. She was an active member of the Beaver Creek Homemakers Club, Cowbells, the American Lutheran Church and Esther Circle, as well as the Pinkies Volunteers at Fallon Medical Complex. She especially loved working at and later managing the Pink Touch gift shop at FMC, and greatly enjoyed the close friendships she developed there. She was an active member of the Senior Citizens Center, and a member of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. Irene and Kenneth traveled through nearly all of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and enjoyed a trip to Germany. Yet to Irene there truly was ?no place like home?. She was interested in and supportive of church, community projects, and loved to be in the audience attending the events of her grandchildren and their friends. Although she had just four granddaughters in Baker, many other young ladies thought of her as, and often called her ?gramma?, and she was so happy to be part of the adopted family of Chris and Shirley Sakelaris and restaurant crew! She could never be convinced that there was any place else better to live, and chose to remain in the Baker area, her home for over 62 years. Irene is survived by her sons, Jim (Dee) McCants, Plevna, MT; Vern (Linda) McCants, Billings, MT; Allen (Jan) Rustad, Baker, MT; her daughter Thelma (Bill) Witt, Billings, MT and stepson Kenneth (Sophia) Rustad, Farmington, NM. Irene has 12 grandchildren: Dwayne (Teresa) McCants, and Daryl (Tara) McCants of Wasilla, AK; David (Jennifer) McCants of Denver, CO; Lana McCorey of Salt Lake City, UT; Marjorie (Eric) Christiaanson of Billings, and Rurik Rustad of Farmington, NM; Erin (Henry) Griffith of Canyon Ferry, MT; Sarah Rustad of Billings; Allison Rustad of Dickinson, ND; Georgia Rustad of Baker; Jason Witt of Billings, and Jennifer (Tony) Lowry of Denver, CO. She has seven great-grandchildren: Dakota and Jeremiah McCants, James, Kimberly and Dustin McCants, and Mark and Alisha McCorey. Irene has three surviving siblings: Buck (Edna) Mendenhall of Miles City, Jerry Mendenhall, Forsyth, MT, and U. S. Army Lt. Col. , Ret?d, Don (Lottie) Mendenhall, Germany, sister-in-laws Evy Mendenhall, of California, Sammy Rustad of Powell, WY, and Ellen Rustad, Baker, as well as many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kenneth, her sisters Clara, Gladys, and Judy, and her brothers Carl, David, Wensel, Russell, Bill, Kenneth, and an unnamed brother who died in infancy. Irene was a warm, loving and gracious lady, and such a presence in our lives. We will miss her, and the huge part of our hearts that she takes with her on her journey to everlasting life with our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. We are thankful that she, like Christ, leaves us ?not as orphans?, but in the comfort of her spirit and legacy of the many ways in which she loved us ? the traces we have of her, in our hearts and in our homes. Irene?s family is very thankful that she lived and was able to die in a community where people know and are known ? where she was cared for until the very end by dedicated and competent professionals who knew her well, and who understood and respected her wishes, with compassion and support. What a great blessing you all have been. Thank you for all of your care, prayers, cards, flowers, phone calls, your sensitivity and kindness. Memorials may be made to the American Lutheran Church, the Fallon Medical Complex, or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker, MT.


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Burial Date: July 30, 2007
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral: Monday, American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT