Barbara Rusho

Barbara June (Walter) Rusho, 92, passed peacefully from Loveland, Colorado into the arms of her Lord on November 30, 2023. She was born into a large family residing in Firestone, Colorado on April 29, 1931. Her parents, Alex and Anna Marie (Weitz) Walter, were hard-working German immigrants from Russia who fled rumors of war, landing at Ellis Island in 1912 and prospered farming the land in rural northern Colorado. Barbara credited these two for her lifelong faith in God, the practice of prayer, the value of hard work, accepting responsibility for one’s actions, and respect for authority.

Barbara proudly graduated from Mead High School in 1949, an accomplishment only she and one of her siblings achieved. Her experience in northern Colorado schools resulted in a life-long commitment to ensure that all her heirs had/have the opportunity to achieve through education.

Barbara met Eugene Marion Rusho at a friend’s dance party, fell in love, and married him 6 months later in Longmont, Colorado on July 17, 1954. Together they raised three children and lots of tomatoes in the backyard garden. Barbara loved serving big family dinners at a table that stretched the length of two rooms (so everyone could sit at the big table). After her own children were in school, she worked in the nearby junior high school cafeteria serving lunches every day. She also baked and decorated cakes for many weddings and other occasions with her sister Betty. Following the death of her husband in 2001, Barbara logged many volunteer hours crocheting baby gift sets and blankets for newborns at Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton, Colorado.

Barbara was the last child in her generation, being preceded in death by her 14 siblings including 3 who died at birth and 3 who died of disease before maturity. Barbara is survived by her three children: Karen (Bob) VonFeldt, Robert (Patti) Rusho, and Steven (Jackie) Rusho along with 6 grandchildren: Stacy St. Germain (Will), Stephanie Waterman (Matt), Kim Adamson (Aaron), Michael (Kara) Rusho, David Rusho, Nick (Jeff) Rusho as well a 7 great-grandchildren: Will & Alayna St. Germain, Eben & Mason Waterman, and Amity, Everest, and Verity Adamson.