Irene Rud, 92, of Stephen MN, passed away on Saturday, October 2, 2021, in North Star Manor, Warren MN, under the care of Hospice.
Irene Agatha Pietruszewski was born in Wright township, Marshall County, on Feb. 3, 1929, to Anton and Hedwig Pietruszewski. She attended Golden Glow country school. She helped area farm families in her younger years and moved to Duluth, where she worked at Bridgeman and did nanny work for a family in Duluth as well. She moved back to Stephen and was working at Wanda's Cafe when she met a farmer, Harvey Rud, and they were married on June 13th 1953 at St. Stephens Catholic Church. They lived in Minneapolis the first year after their marriage and then moved back to Stephen where they lived the rest of their lives. She worked in the local restaurants and also as a nurses aid at the Warren Hospital for a number of years.
She was a member of the Country Garden Club, Stephen Curling Club, Legion Auxilliary and Ladies Aid at St. Stephen's Church.
Harvey and Irene enjoyed traveling to Florida, Arizona, Texas, California, Nashville, Bermuda and Las Vegas. She also enjoyed taking bus trips, having traveled to Branson, MO. Irene and Diane celebrated her 80th birthday with a trip to visit Bette in San Diego, with a stop in Las Vegas on their way home. She also toured Washington, DC with Bette not long after she was widowed. Irene enjoyed attending Jim's basketball games, even riding along on the school bus if Harvey was driving. Harvey passed away in 1998 at the age of 70.
Irene moved to the Tamarac Senior Living Community in Stephen in 2005 and lived there until her health started to decline. At which point she moved to Edgewood Vista in East Grand Forks, followed by a stay in the Karlstad nursing home for 1 year. For the past 4 ½ years Irene has been living at North Star Manor.
Left to mourn her passing are children, Maureen (Chester “Chip”) Czepyha of Sanbornville, NH, Diane (Loren) Adolphson of Argyle, MN, Bette (Christopher Wasden) Rud of San Diego, CA, and Jim (Jenni) Rud of Fargo, ND; five grandchildren, Brady Rud, Carter Rud, Alex Rud all of Fargo, Daniel Czepyha of Sanbornville, NH, and Rachel (Josh) Cyr of Valdosta, GA; and great-granddaughter, Isabella, of Florida. She is also survived by siblings, Aurelia Kujawa of Argyle, MN, Cecelia Grembowski of East Grand Forks MN, and Hilary Pietruszewski of Stephen, MN; sister-in-law Olga Pietruszewski of New Brighton, MN; along with many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Harvey, she was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Edward, Raymond, Valerian, Henry, Felician, John, Francis, and infant brother Anton; in-laws, Walter (Loretta) Rud, Verna Benson, and Dorothy (Lloyd) Kirsch; sisters-in-law: Lottie, Alice, Emily, Lorraine, Margaret, Mary, and Ann.
Irene's family would like to thank the staff of North Star Manor and Hospice of the Red River Valley for their compassionate care.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Thursday, October 7, 2021, at 11:00 AM, in St. Stephen Catholic Church, Stephen, MN.
VISITATION: One hour prior to Mass.
INTERMENT: Next to Harvey in St. Stephen Cemetery.
To watch a video of Irene's funeral service, please click the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/DuBoreFuneralHome/videos/606059754085696