Marlen Rustebakke

Marlen Eugene Rustebakke, of rural McCanna, ND passed away Friday, December 26 at Good Samaritan Society of Larimore, ND. He had lived independently on the original Rustebakke homestead until October of this year.

Marlen was born in Grand Forks, ND to Arndt and Effie (Lysne) Rustebakke on November 8, 1934. He attended several elementary schools, including one-room school houses, for his education and graduated from Niagara High School of Niagara, ND in 1952. He attended UND, but returned to the farm after his father’s passing and helped his family keep the farm going.

The Bachelor’s Grove neighborhood was an important part of his growing up years. He helped his mother and sister Sharon run the concession stand at the Bachelor’s Grove Community Park and made many life-long friendships during those summers of working hard and dancing a bit too. The sounds of Big Band music, which he loved, always made him think of those days.

Marlen was a farmer his entire life, retiring in 2017. His favorite thing to do on the farm was combine wheat. He said on more than one occasion that he hoped when he got to heaven the Lord had a big wheat field waiting for him to harvest! He also raised Hereford cattle for several years, and fed many generations of birds, squirrels, and deer, who made his farmyard their home. He was a conservationist who always looked out for wildlife.

On June 28, 1969 Marlen married Helen (Estelle) Ness at Bethel Lutheran Church of rural Larimore, ND. They were married for 48 years until Estelle passed away in 2018. He had cared for her for the last ten years of her Alzheimer’s journey.

In 1972 and 1975 their sons Brian and Daniel joined their family, and Marlen was proud and excited to be a Dad!

Through Marlen’s 91 years, Elk Valley Lutheran Church was an important constant in his life. He had a quiet, steady faith and his life was devoted to hard work, the land, his family, and church.

Cherishing his memory forever are his sons Brian, of rural McCanna, and Daniel (Jessica) of Fargo, ND and his grandchildren Andrew, Michael, and Isabella. He will also be missed by his sister Sharon, special nieces Lisa (Norm) Enerson and Annette Mozey and their families, sister and brother-in-law Donna and Tom Runyan and their daughters Taunia Suckert and Shannon Gephart and their families. He is also survived by several special cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife Estelle, his parents Arndt and Effie, brother-in-law Harris Nelson, and Estelle’s parents Peter and Geneva Ness.

Marlen will be deeply missed, but fondly remembered for his kindness and sense of humor, but will continue to be a light in the lives of his family.

Services are pending.