Dina Renay Rupert

Dina Renay Rupert passed away peacefully, March 4, 2021 in Bakersfield, California. One min she was with us, her family; and the next her eyes opened and she entered Christ's loving arms. She was surrounded by friends and family while instrumental Christian music lightly filled the room.

The days leading up to her last breath were filled with friends, family, and children kissing her forehead and holding her hands. A small group of un-named Angels sang beautiful music while Dina's eyes lightly fluttered as she recalled the lyrics. Small glimmers of smiles and hand squeezes brought anyone in the room a sense of "She hears us, She feels us" feelers. Her mother refused to leave her side. While she poured endless prayers to Christ and in the midst of seeing her daughter in pain. Would squeeze her daughters hand and say, "You got this Deen, you got this". As the tears flowed down a mothers cheeks she would look over at her grandchildren {Dina's children} begging us to help take the pain away. "Do something, anything".

Our Mother was born April 30th, 1965 in Dinuba, California. Although leading up to her entering this world has a tiny back story or moment if you will. Her Mother Linda, (21 yrs old) after nurses had checked her into delivery room and into her bed decided she was not having this baby out of fear and pain, and unhooked herself and proceeded to run down a hall to exit the delivery room! Dina was born to proud parents Jim Rupert and Linda Welch-Holt.

Growing up as a child Dina was a little too helpful at times when it came to her only sibling, Shelly Millsap. Her mother recalls a moment when Dina came around a corner holding Shelly by her neck repeating, "Baby cry, Baby cry". Dina did many things as a child she raced dirt bikes, climbed tree's and found time to rip the heads off of her sister's Barbie's. Shelly recalls one day Dina had run across some cactus and got the thorns stuck in her feet. As she was telling the story to her sister she just didn't think Shelly was getting the full understanding of how bad it truly hurt. So she took it upon herself to get an umbrella and a chunk of the cactus to bring home so that Shelly too could walk on it and feel the pain!

A rumbustious child who had a wild side and a knack for telling stories even if they weren't exactly true. Like about the time she was hit by a car and leg was her the other there, and then God put her back together. A very protective older sister to Shelly, whom like she liked to pester. But don't think twice about it. She could pester Shelly, you could not, and she let that be known. She might have roughed up a boy for poking fun at her sister.

Lets fast forward to her teens and young adulthood. Where she met some friends Rob, JoAnna, and Cara. Cara whom her children grew up knowing as Mickey Mouse. JoAnna whom may have taught Jamie a curse word which Jamie grew up thinking that 's what a phone was called. We have heard a number of stories carving things into desks, skipping school and sliding down rock waterfall slides. Cara getting married and Dina being in a car that had a mini fire and adhered her panties hose to her legs briefly.

To working for B Rock BUZZ Radio, TV channel 23, Tupperware, Avon and Mary Kay. She succeeded and sold like crazy. I'll be damned if her kids weren't helping stuff and place things on doors to help her.

Lets settle down into her 20's and 30's. Around this age gap is where she had two children Jamie and Sean. And this is where her love for children began. Later in life is where her heart was pulled being a Mother to many and her heart said, I can be Mother to all. She had over 400 kids come through her home and she loved every single one of them. The harder they pushed her out, the harder she loved them back.

Her mother shared- "Dina's personality was a gift from God". At Kindergarten Graduation they were handing out awards. Dina's award was, "Most Willing" and Dina wouldn't get up! We laughed so hard. She lived up to that award. She was always willing to help anyone. Dina's heart never ran out of love. Dina always felt she could help just one more kid. Her greatest accomplishments were always her kids. I am proud to say, "I am Dina's mom and I loved her so much. When you think of Dina remember her smile. I can hear Dina right now, Don't you be crying, be happy we will be back together again."

Shelly, her sister, shared at her service- As a kid she was pretty much always up to something that pretty much defied logic. When we were little she decided to sew her feet together. Because webbed feet made you swim faster. I would do her homework for her. But not for free! She would complain that she only got a "C" on it. And I would say "well we need to make it believable". Somehow at a very young age I learned the word interest. When I loaned her money I would tack a quarter on, you know; had to make it worth my time. When she was 16 for whatever reason my parents let her buy a Mustang. That car had too much power for her. She would take the corner so fast. I was so mortified when she dropped me off at Chipman Jr. High. I would beg please just down the street I'll walk. But no she had to go in the parking lot and skid out. Mind you I was 14. She would be driving not slow like 40 mph. Taking the curves. And she would all of a sudden would yell take the wheel and she would start combing her hair. That was just Dina.

I am going to miss that beautiful smile and your loving heart and generous spirit. She set an example for all of us with how we should live our lives. I know one day I will sit by your side again we will be crocheting and playing Skip Bo like we always do. And figuring out how it the hell are we going to get her online shopping sent to Heaven. I love you.

On behalf of Dina's Children; Jamie shared some words.

I would love to start this off by saying that I am the oldest child. However the sentence is only half true you see if I am correct Sharon and Maria are the oldest children. And I don't say that to throw anyone under the bus. But some of us like to remain thinking that we are young. So yes, Sharon and Maria hold that title of oldest. There is so much to say about my Mom, our Mom. She is the best ,was the best, will always be the best. No matter how upset she was with you, she never stopped loving you. No matter how many times I packed a bag and threatened to run away. No matter how many times a foster kid lost their temper, threw a skateboard at her, shoved her into the bushes, or locked her out of the house. She always had love.

Mom could go from, clean that up, pick that up! To... Hi, this is Dina! We always wondered, what was in her that made her do it.... whenever she answered the phone. Like come on, Mom, everyone knows our house isn't normal. Mom always wanted more time, she always wanted more pictures, more games. She always asked me to organize or to help her clean, to make her dinner. Sometimes I would roll my eyes. This isn't spending time with you Mom. It's a chore. If only I could go back and see that it was time.

My mom had a knack for uhm.. holding onto things. A table that was so and so's, a figurine, a rocking chair. A jacket that had a memory from junior high. She had a story for almost everything that I would try to get her to let go of. No! Linda Reed gave me that blanket. No! JoAnna gave me that. I said "Mom I promise they won't go to that Good Will". It didn't work.

She had a sense of style. All of us kids know this. When we lived on Elsey she would get up every morning and read the newspaper. And then she would take a shower making sure to take all the hot water. Then she would do her hair and makeup in the nude. And we all think she did it so that us children were not allowed in the room to pester her this was her alone time. She matched, and might I add I am a horrible replica of her. She matched her panties to her bra, to her outfit, to her socks to her shoes!

Mom owns about 100 pairs of shoe, and a tub for her bra's. She would pack to leave for the weekend and it would appear she was leaving for the month she needed her matching jewelry.

She had a love for beach towels, Band-Aids, and expired medicine ... Thank you Kaiser. She could clean a hotel counter out. And bring home lotions, shampoo's and tea's just knowing she could use it somewhere.

Her Kaiser family meant the world to her. And became her second family. She thought so highly of the people she worked with and was blessed with beautiful friendships.

Mom is known for her white teeth or should I say Blue. She will definitely be remember for her smile and blue eyes! Her slogan as she helped you at the counter at Kaiser " Have a Blessed Day". Her love for her children and CHRIST. Dina was reunited with her grandparents, step father Ken Welch and her daughter Kristie Harris, and son Jonathan Saavedra.

You will be forever missed and always remembered!

Deen ~ Dina ~ Mrs. D ~ Mom ~ Aunt Dina ~ Nana