She was born in Denver, Colorado to Joyce A Barton and the late Russell W Veenstra. She graduated from Englewood High School in Colorado, and went on to receive her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education from ASU in Arizona. In May of 2020, she retired from a 35-year teaching career in Arizona, the last several years as a Reading Interventionist for the Dysart School District. She attended church at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Surprise, AZ near her home.
She was highly respected by her colleagues and had a gift for instilling the love of learning in each of her students and considered every one of them as her own kid. From the time she was a small child, she loved reading, and collected a large number of books. She was also creative, completing a number of cross-stitch pictures through the years, displaying them on the walls of her home and giving them as gifts. In the last few years, her creativity turned to painting; she studied acrylic paint-pouring and produced beautiful canvases and glass pieces.
Her beautiful home, large family and devoted friends meant everything to her. She was a loving, caring person; touching every child or adult she met with a quiet affection and inspiration just for them. None of us will ever forget her robust, infectious laugh, her sarcastic wit, or her fierce, indomitable will.
Rusti passed from this world into the loving arms of her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at Banner Hospital in Surprise, AZ. Her memory will be cherished by an adoring mother, brothers Rick, Joel, and Jon, sister Jodie, as well as her sisters-in-law Cindy, Cheryl, and Renee, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She will be sorely missed.
“Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.” Rusti chose to live a life that matters.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate toward the development of a literacy scholarship in Rusti’s name at https://gofund.me/a8ac9eca.
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