Willa M. Rustan

A celebration of life for Willa Marie (Parkins) Rustan, 89, Dickinson, is 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Dickinson, with Rev. Cal Oraw officiating. Burial will follow in Rainy Butte Cemetery, New England.

Visitation for Willa is Thursday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Stevenson Funeral Home in Dickinson, with family receiving friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mom, homemaker, traveler and volunteer, Willa passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Willa was born Nov. 3, 1923. She graduated high school in 1942.

For a short time, Willa taught at Teepee Buttes and was a riveter at Boeing in Seattle.

She married Allan in 1944 and raised their children on the Rustan family homestead farm south of New England. She was a member of Rainy Butte Lutheran Church.

Willa and Allan moved to Dickinson in 1978. She was a member of St John’s Lutheran Church and volunteered at the hospital, nursing homes, church and the Scandiavian Stabbur at Prairie Outpost Park.

After Allan’s death in 1990, she was an Arizona “snow-bird,” enjoyed golfing and traveled around the United States and Europe.

Willa was a generous, kind and loving woman who (even while battling Alzheimer’s) was extremely polite, was willing to try new things, and always greeted everyone with a wide smile.

Willa was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Maud Parkins; husband, Allan Rustan; sisters and brothers and their spouses: James Parkins, Robert Parkins, Thelma Stegner, Cecil (Tootie) Trzynka, Myrtle Claire, Frances Woll.

Willa was the last surviving sibling in the Parkins family. She was also the last surviving family member from that generation in the Rustan family.

Survived by her children and spouses, Pam Rustan of Halliday, Dennis (Dava) Rustan of New England, Bonnie (James) Hild of Minneapolis; grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Tanya Balkcom, Allison Bland, Troy Tieszen, Scott Tieszen and several great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews.

Memorials suggested to Rainy Butte Cemetery Association, or Country House, or Prairie Rose Chorus.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.

Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson

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