Anita Joan Rustad, 79, of St. Ansgar, died Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Robert Porisch officiating and burial in the First Lutheran Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in St. Ansgar. Anita was born Feb. 17, 1932, to Clifford and Marie (Mehus) Thorson. Anita spent her entire life in the St. Ansgar area, and graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1950. Anita married her high school sweetheart, Robert Rustad, on Oct. 21, 1951. This October would have been their 60th anniversary. They had six children. A busy mother and farm wife, she devoted her life to raising her children and helping on the farm. When her own children were grown, Anita became a day care provider for many of the area youth. She was a life-long member of First Lutheran Church where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She enjoyed choir, quilting, crafts and cards. One of her greatest joys was watching her children and grandchildren participate in their numerous activities. Anita rarely missed a school concert or sporting event from the 1970s until just before her death. In 1996, Anita suffered from a renal disease, which left her requiring life-long dialysis. She was a fighter, spending 14.5 years on dialysis, the longest for any patient of the Mason City Mercy Dialysis Center.

Left to cherish her memory include her husband, Robert; children, Deb (Dan Freeman) of St. Ansgar, Dennis (Michelle) of Des Moines, Duane (Patti) of Grafton, Dave (Cindy) of St. Ansgar and Deanna Rustad of Waterloo; grandchildren, Jon (Tracy) Heimer, Joe (Sam), Danielle and Rachel Freeman; Bayley, Violet and Opal Rustad; Aaron, Megan, Taylor and Klay Rustad; Jamie Rustad, Mandi (Casey) Graham, and Tyce Rustad; great-grandchildren, Shelby, Zach and Ashley Heimer, and Drew Freeman; step-grandchildren, Jeff (Bobbi), James Freeman and Jennifer (Kevin) Tucke; step-great-grandchildren: Nicholas and Jessie Jo Freeman, and Coryssa, Makaya and Brayden Tucke; sisters, Delores Feldt and Arlene (Rudy) Tesch, sister-in law Cleo (Ray) Kolpin and three nieces and three nephews.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents; mother and father in-law; infant daughter, Gloria. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, is in charge of arrangements, 641-713-4920. Memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church Building Fund or St. Ansgar Booster Club.