Maxine Lenora Rustuen

OF BELLEVUE

(FORMERLY OF MAGNOLIA)

Maxine L. Rustuen passed away on February 13, 2016 just 36 days shy of her 95th birthday. She was born in Saronville, Nebraska on March 20, 1921, the youngest of five children born to Claude Reinhold Johnson and Esther Annette (Carlson) Johnson. She was a 1938 graduate of Queen Anne High School. She received her BS in Nursing from the University of Washington in 1943. She married Ernest Arthur Rustuen that same year. He predeceased her in 1974.

If you received your polio shots at the Magnolia Grade School in 1955, Maxine was one of the volunteer nurses, who provided that service. She also volunteered to serve as the duty nurse for various community events at the Magnolia Park. She served as a Brownie/Girl Scout leader. The whole family loved to go camping & fishing. Both she and her husband, Ernie Rustuen volunteered to cook and clean up for various functions at their Magnolia Presbyterian Church. She helped raise funds for the Children’s Orthopedic Guild and was a member of the Magnolia Garden Club.

In 1952, Maxine & Ernie Rustuen purchased an entire block in Magnolia (between 24th & 25th and West Lynn Place and West McGraw St). It had been a small farm complete with a farm house, a small barn, a work shed and vegetable garden. They developed the block into six building lots, bringing water and utilities to the property and installing sidewalks. The streets remained gravel until about 1959. They built their own home on one of the six lots.

Maxine is survived by two daughters, Ruth Carver (son-in-law John Carver deceased) and Sandra Smith (son-in-law W. Earle Smith, Jr.); six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Two of her brothers (Sylvester Johnson & Kenneth Johnson) and her one sister (Elaine Johnson Robinson) lived to be in their 90’s. Her youngest brother, Lemoine K. Johnson, was a Chief Shipfitter on board the USS Enterprise (CV6) at his battle station when he was killed by a Japanese attack during WWII.

Remembrances may be made to Group Health Hospice or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home, Renton, WA.