Jack "Ray" Raymond Rusten

1937-2025

Ray Rusten passed away on March 26, 2025, at the Wetaskiwin Hospital at the age of 88 years.  Ray was born on March 18, 1937, in a rural area not far from Ponoka, Alberta.  He grew up on a farm but decided farming wasn't for him at the time, so at the age of 17, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. His superiors found out that he enlisted when he was too young, and he was politely discharged.  He would later try his hand at driving a truck for a living, which he did for various trucking companies for a number of years. During that time, Ray travelled all across Canada and the US, and he told many stories of his experiences and the beautiful country he had seen.   In Calgary, he met Marjorie, the love of his life and they were married in December 1973.  Ray and Marj bought an acreage in Millarville where they had a few cows, a couple of horses, dogs and cats.  In 1975, they sold their acreage and bought a farm in the Millet area, where they raised cattle and had more dogs and cats. They farmed and also maintained full-time jobs in Wetaskiwin for many years. When Ray wasn't farming, for relaxation he loved fishing and camping. Ray and Marj loved their farm and their animals, but in their golden years, they decided it was time to sell the farm and their cattle. Ray and Marj rented the farmhouse and yard from the new owners, and Ray spent his last years spoiling their dogs and cats, but he still missed his cattle.

Ray was predeceased by parents Karsten and Kari Rusten; sister and brother-in-law June and Floyd Meyer; sister, Anne Littman; half-brother, Toby Drinnen; nephew, Toby Meyer; mother and father-in-law, Lydia and Walter Feldberg; brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Mary Feldberg; sister-in-law, Merna Fleitman; sister-in-law, Lillian Norton.

Left to mourn are his loving wife, Marj; niece, Gus Rusten; Meyer nephews; sister-in-law, Jan Bates (Tom); brother-in-law, Jim Fleitman (Nancy); nephew, Alan Haywood (Shelly); great niece, Alison Haywood.

A sincere thank you to the doctors and nurses at the Wetaskiwin Hospital Unit 35  for their compassionate care of Ray.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in the rural area of Millet, with details to be announced at a later date.  

Donations in memory of Ray can be made to the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation, 6910 - 47 St. Wetaskiwin, AB  T9A 3N3 (www.wetaskiwinhealthfoundation.com) or to any charity of your choice.
 

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