In Memory ~ Rusk, Roger

In Memory ~ Roger Rusk

picture in 50th reunion booklet

circa 1961

Roger passed away on January 27, 2021 in Helena, Montana.  Roger's wife of 28 years, JoJo (Jolene), called me the evening he died.  We told stories to each other about Roger's life.  JoJo was Roger's caregiver for many years.  Rog was born March 8th, 1942.  Rog and I (Sharon Phillip Singleton) shared the same birthdate.  My favorite memory of Roger was in our senior year (1961) when he was not going to graduate from high school unless he passed a test in bookkeeping the end of the week.  He spent several evenings at my house studying for the test.  He got an "A" which shocked our teacher, did graduate.  Roger was our class president in our senior year at AHS.  JoJo's email is jojorusk53@gmail.com.  Address and cell are the same as listed below. 

Another call from JoJo today (1/29/21).  Roger now has three great grandchildren also.  On his bucket list was to see and touch a horse for one last time.  An EMT friend of Rog & JoJo's arranged for this.  She also arranged for Roger (one week before he died) to see this newly born duck (pictured).

Roger's Obituary

Roger Kendal Rusk ~ March 8, 1942-January 27, 2021

Funeral services will be held February 6, 2021 1:00 pm
at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints 1260
Otter Rd. Helena, Montana. The service will also be
available via Zoom.
Roger died Wednesday January 27, 2021 at his home
with his wife Jolene and eldest daughter Kimdele
Anderson by his side.
He was born Sunday March 8, 1942 in Alliance,
Nebraska the son of Charley and Minnie (Colerick)
Rusk. Roger had an older sister Charla and younger
brother Douglas.
Roger was married to Donna Bamrick from November
6, 1965 to 1990. To this union three daughters were
born, Kimdele Christine, Sharyn Ann and Paige
Katherine. He moved his family to Douglas where he
managed a Redi-mix plant. He also worked for
Converse County Road and Bridge and road
construction. In 1996 he suffered a work related injury
while hauling propane that left him unable to work.
Roger married Jolene Jones December 30, 1992. A few
years into their marriage they moved to California.
After five years, wanting to escape the heat of
California and be nearer to family, they moved to
Helena, MT where he resided until his death.
Roger loved to bird hunt and fish. He was an avid
sports fan, especially of Nebraska football! He was
very proud of his 32 years of sobriety inspired by the
birth of his first grandchild Kayleigh.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years Jolene Rusk of
Helena; children Kimdele (Earl) Anderson of Helena,
Sharyn (Scott) Polley of Cody, WY, and Paige (Terry)
Rider of Douglas, WY; grand children Kamber (Kyle)
Heffelfinger, Nathan Anderson, Brayden Polley, Kaitlyn
Polley, Brennan Polley, Kayleigh Rusk, Desirae (Elias)
Rider-Euler, Dylln (Haley) Rider and Zane Rusk; great
grand children Brycen Heffelfinger, Finley Heffelfinger
and Elowyn Euler; siblings Charla (Gary) Augustin and
Douglas Rusk; Brothers-in-law Wayne (Connie)
Prather, Richard Leo Jones and Gerald A. Jones;
nephews Bruce (Sara) Augustin, Rick Lee (Mandy)
Jones and Jared Jones; nieces Brook-Lynn Jones,
Becky Jones, Joni Bennett and her daughters Hailee
and Natalie.
Roger was preceded in death by his father Charley,
mother Minnie and nephew Mark Augustin.
Anderson Stevenson and Wilke Funeral Home of
Helena is in charge of the arrangements.

Roger's information in our 50th class reunion booklet

 

Rusk, Roger

Spouse ~ Jolene

PO Box 6152

Helena, MT  59604

909-747-2650 cell

kimdeleanderson@bresnan.net (daughter’s email)

C ~ Three daughters ~ Kim, Sharyn, and Paige

G ~ Nine grandchildren

My life changed nearly 23 years ago when my first grandchild was born.  I had an alcohol problem fresh out of high school until I was 47 years old ~ I have not had a drink since that time.  In the early years after graduation, I left Nebraska for Wyoming to manage a Redi-Mix plant; then went to work for Converse County road and bridge department in Wyoming (heavy road equipment).  Other jobs were road construction (hauling hot mix) and driving truck (hauling propane).  I was injured in 1996 while hauling propane.  I have had fourteen operations since 1996 and am on oxygen 24/7.  Many health issues plagued me for years ~ pinched nerve, collapsed lung, implanted vein in left hip; staph infection; allergic to antibiotics, irregular heartbeat, etc.  Doctors say I should have been dead by now.  End result was selling everything in Douglas, WY and moving to California ~ we lived in an RV for five years with my wife being a security guard while I was unable to work.  After having enough of the 120 degree weather in California, we came back to Helena, MT where my oldest daughter lives and bought a small place near her.  My son-in-law likes to hunt and fish ~ he is a very patient man who puts up with taking me hunting and fishing.  My doctor would now like to have me on a diet ~ I say that I have given up whiskey, cigarettes, and women ~ and refuse to give up eating.  I will get to the class reunion if I have to crawl to Alliance