Lewis Orville Rustad, 1917-2008

RUSTAD, GUNDERSON, HANSON, RASMUSSEN, SCHERKENBACK

Posted By: Connie K. Hanson (email)
Date: 7/31/2014 at 22:49:54

A memorial service for Lewis Orville Rustad was held on Dec. 24, [2008], at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Yreka, Calif., with Pastor Lori Keyser-Boswell officiating. Orville died peacefully in his home on Dec. 19. Lewis Orville Rustad was born April 12, 1917, on the family farm near Wallingford, [Ia.], to Lewis and Jennett (Gunderson) Rustad. He attended the nearby country school and graduated in 1937 from Graettinger High School. Some of his greatest interests were baseball, motorcycles and playing horseshoes. After serving four years in the Army Air Corps during WWII, Lewis married Lenora Hanson on Dec. 15, 1946. They spent many years on the family farm before moving to California in 1962 where they owned a guest resort. Orville also drove school bus, operated a gas station and ordered and delivered supplies for the San Lorenzo Valley School District. He retired in 1984 and in 2000 he and Lenora moved to Yreka, Calif. There they joined Mt. Zion Lutheran Church where they were very active and made many good friends. Orville was also a long-time member of the American Legion, Iowa Post No. 0567. He is survived by Lenora, his wife of 62 years; sisters Arlene Rasmussen, Janice (Wayne) Scherkenback and brother Harold (DeLaine) Rustad; children Janet (Sunny) Smith, Maxine (Don) DeDobbeleer, and Duane (Barbara) Rustad; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister.