ESTHERVILLE - Funeral services for Bennet L. Rust, 88, of Estherville will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 9 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Estherville with Pastor Glenn Bohmer officiating. Military graveside rites by VFW Post 3388 and American Legion Post 91 of Estherville will be at East Side Memorial Cemetery, Estherville. He died Sunday, Sept. 5, surrounded by his family. His final days were in the loving care of Avera Holy Family Hospice and the Estherville Good Samaritan Center
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel in Estherville.
Bennet Lewis Rust was born on June 14, 1922, to Edwin Herbert Rust and Nellie (Lane) Rust in the town of Loraine, Polk County, Wis. He was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Loraine.Following the death of his mother Nellie in 1925, Bennet and four brothers lived at the Wauwatosa Lutheran Children's Home for three years. The family was reunited after Bennet's father married Ella Jacobson. Two sisters, Clarice Jensen and Darlene Miller, were born into the new family. The Rust family moved often, and Bennet attended nine schools before completing the eighth grade. Bennet graduated from Barron High School in 1941. He joined the United States Marine Corps Aviation Division that year and served with the Dive Bombing Squadrons in the South Pacific during World War II.
On March 7, 1946, Bennet married Noreen Wahl at St. Matthews Church in Almena, Wis. After farming for a few years, Bennet became a meat inspector for the U. S. Department of Agriculture, a job that brought the family from Milwaukee, Wis., to Estherville in 1954. Bennet continued his U.S.D.A. service for 34 years until his retirement in 1983. Bennet gave his time and talents generously to his neighbors, his church, and his community. He used his woodworking skills to complete countless repairs and building projects and provided entertainment for hundreds of people with his mandolin and violin playing. He loved and enjoyed his nine grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Bennet was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Rust, his mother, Nellie, and his stepmother, Ella; by six brothers: Lawrence, Wilber, Albin, LoWayne, Arthur, and George; and by one sister, Clarice Jensen.
Bennet is survived by his loving wife Noreen of Estherville; by three children: David (Joy Smith) of Iowa City, Michael (Kim Hrbek) of Turtle Lake, Wis, and Kathy Johnson (Jim Benz) of Spirit Lake; by nine grandchildren: Cory Mehan (Daniel Lynch) of Minneapolis, Minn, Aaron Rust (Nadia Zaks) of Berkeley, Calif, Adam Benz of Bethesda, Md, Caleb Smith of Denver, Colo, Ryan Benz of Chicago, Ill., Nathan Johnson of Ames, Toby Rust of Minneapolis, Minn., Addie Rust (Brad Wesley) of Osceola, Wis., and Joshua Rust (Hope Eastman) of Turtle Lake, Wis.; by one great-granddaughter, Hanna Rust of Turtle Lake, Wis.; and by three sisters-in-law: Peggy Malon and Evelyn Rust of Rice Lake, Wis., and Marion Krahenbuhl of Brush, Colo. He is also survived by many dear nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be directed to Avera Holy Family Hospice and to the Dove Room at the Estherville Good Samaritan Center.
Online condolences may be made at www.henryolsonfuneral.com.
