Donald "Donny" Irvin Rust

Donald (Donny) Irvin Rust of Great Falls passed away May 25, 2018 after a two-year battle with Leukemia.  Cremation has taken place.  Services will be Saturday, June 9th at 2:00 PM in the Rose Room Chapel at Croxford Funeral Home, 1307 Central Ave.  A reception will follow at the Hideout Lounge, 2401 12th Ave S. Please bring your favorite salad or dessert.

Born on July 7, 1949, Don was proud to be a “west side kid” having spent his childhood on the street of Fairhaven in west Great Falls.  Much of Don’s summers were spent in Augusta with cousins and aunts and uncles.  He graduated in 1967 from the second graduating class of CM Russell High School.  Don tried to enlist in the Navy during the Viet Nam War but was rejected because of a missing finger.  Don continued his education at a business school in Denver and spend time hitchhiking across the west, visiting family like his Aunt Laura and Uncle Don in Kansas.

Don married his soul mate, Shery Olsen, on April 14, 1980, instantly becoming father of three children.  Don is survived by his wife; son, Cliff (Melissa) Rust of Great Falls; daughters, Mindee (Jeff) Summers of Kent WA and Lou (Cord) Halmes of Big Sky, as well as his brother, Richard(Jamie) Rust; nephews, Rory (Kristina) and Randy Rust of Great Falls; grandchildren, Tanner and Lily Rust, Trevor and Mila Summers of Washington; two aunts; one uncle; in-laws; cousins; nieces and nephews and friends too many to mention, as well as his beloved Cocker Spaniels, Jazz and Buddy, who will miss Don.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Donald V. and Shirley Rust.

Don was dedicated to his family spending many hours coaching Cliff in Little League and hockey, Lou and Sherry on the Montana Deaconess ladies’ softball team and everyone including daughter-in-law, Melissa on a co-ed team.  Road trips, camping and fishing trips, visiting Glacier, Yellowstone, Lincoln area, Benchmark and Kings Hill, and the cabin in Dearborn were frequent.  Don traveled many miles to watch Lily and Tanner participate in baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer games.

Don worked at Montana Vegetable and Feed Mill for over a decade, continuing through several owners.  Don and Sherry moved to Helena in 2000, where he worked as a security guard on the Capitol Complex, then driving tour and school bus for Helena and East Helena.  He loved his East Helena “kids” decorating his bus with hand drawn pictures and school photos.  The kidz would cheer when his beloved Broncos won and sympathize when they lost.

They returned to Great Falls in 2016 when his health failed.  He continued to cheer on his Broncos and his favorite Chicago Cubs and enjoyed watching pro hockey.

Donations may be made to the Sletten Cancer Center.  Many thanks to Doctor Bryan Martin and the outstanding nursing and administrative staff. 

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