Jack L. Rustan, 77, Dickinson, died Saturday, November 10, 2018 at his home. Jack’s Funeral Service will be 2 p.m., Friday, November 16, 2018 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Dickinson with Rev. Brian Davidson officiating. Interment will take place at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Edinburg at a later date. Visitation will be Thursday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Jack L. Rustan, entered this world January 14, 1941 in Edinburg to Oscar and Sally Rustan. He spent the first seven years of his life on the farm with his parents and older brother Roger, until the family moved into Edinburg in 1948.
He graduated from Edinburg High School with the class of 1959, and went on to college at the University of North Dakota, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in 1964. On July 12th of that year, Jack married Judy O. Bjornson, and they moved to Jackson Hole, Wyo. for Jack’s first teaching assignment. Later that year, they welcomed their first child, Jill Jeanette.
After two years in Jackson, the young family decided they missed North Dakota, and Jack accepted a teaching position in Dickinson. There, son Jason Lee joined them in 1967.
At Dickinson High School, Jack taught Industrial Arts and Drafting, before taking on the position of Special Need Coordinator. In 1978, he was awarded the North Dakota Vocational Association Young Educator Award for Special Needs. At that time he also served as a member the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Association of Vocational Education Special Needs Personnel and was a member of the North Dakota Special Needs Task Force.
Jack took a respite from education in 1981 when he took a job with Bariod Drilling Services as a Drilling Fluids Engineer (Mud Engineer). The oilfield was very much a part of the remainder of his life as he worked in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado with various drilling fluid companies, included Baroid and MI-Swaco.
Jack felt the draw of education, and returned to school, gaining his Master’s Degree in Education in 1993. He worked between Richardton, Halliday, and Belfield schools as a School Counselor from 1993 until his retirement in 2006. He was very proud of his commitment to education. Following retirement, he continued to do consulting work in the oilfield.
Jack was caring and kind, and fiercely competitive – as anyone who played any type of game with him can attest! He was extremely hard working, and prided himself on his North Dakota work ethic. Jack loved fishing, Elvis Presley, the Vikings, Twins baseball, any adventure. He carried with him always his quick wit, infectious smile, good nature.
Jack loved to travel! He climbed to the top of El Castillo at Chichen Itza, took several cruises to Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Panama Canal, enjoyed annual Hawaiian vacations at his timeshare in Maui, and visited the ancestral farmstead in Hollingdahl, Norway.
Since retirement, Jack greatly enjoyed joining the Table of Knowledge for daily coffee at the Country Kitchen, and their friendship and camaraderie was much appreciated.
Jack played an active role in the lives of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. G-Pa will be greatly missed by them all.
Jack is survived by his loving children, daughter Jill Butler, Dickinson; son Jason Rustan (Kimberly), North Branch MN; five grandchildren, Sarah Trustem (Ryan), Dickinson, Beau Jennings (Danielle), Missoula, MT; Kali Butler, Dickinson, Kristjan Rustan, North Branch, and Zach Rustan, North Branch, and great-grandchildren Aubrey Powers, River Trustem, Samantha Steckler, and Svea Steckler, all of Dickinson, and his faithful dog and constant companion, Gypsy. Also surviving are numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, all cherished.
Preceding Jack in death was his parents, his loving wife Judy in 2003, brother Roger Rustan and his wife Barbara. Jack will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.
