Obituary for Maurine Ruesink, Mother of Youth Board Member Susan Sommervold

Maurine Esther Ruesink, 79, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 6th, 2023, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls with family at her side. She was born in Hudson, SD on May 25, 1943, to Maurice “Red” and Esther (Grane) Overseth. She spent her childhood playing, learning, and helping on the farm with her sister Betty Ann and their many animals – but especially their horses, Mischief and Lady. She met the love of her life, Darryl, at the Canton skating rink in 1958, and they were married on July 6th, 1963. Together they welcomed four daughters, Michelle, Susan, Robyn, and Jenae.

Maurine and Darryl enjoyed spending their time roller-skating, riding their motorcycles, and out on the softball fields, earning recognition for their dedication and achievements with their daughters’ teams and leagues including one at an international level. Maurine was a dedicated daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother. She surrounded herself with her loved ones as often as she could and hosted weekly family suppers and always called to let everyone know how much she loved them. She filled her house with decorations, food, family, and gifts for all the holidays and the late game nights will always be remembered. (Rumor has it she even had Santa’s personal cell number.) 

She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren going horseback riding, listening to all their school, friends, and adventure stories, and was excellent at finding places to hide candy for them to take home.

Maurine was preceded in death by her husband Darryl, her brother John and her parents Maurice and Esther. She is remembered by her daughters Michelle (Bill) Davies, Susan (Pete) Sommervold, Robyn (Tony) Ventura, Jenae (Eric) Ruesink-Cross, her sister, Betty Isakson, grandchildren Kat Davies, Emmy (Aaron) Kasch, Erik Sommervold, Sierra (Brandon) Whitmyre, Alison (Sam) Zezeus, Gunnar (Monika) Sommervold, Colton Ventura, and her great-grandchildren Charlotte Kasch, Addison Kasch, and Sophia Sommervold. 

A visitation will be held at Heritage Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 10, between 4-6 with a sharing time starting at 5:30 pm. Funeral services will be held at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran on Wednesday, January 11th at 10am with fellowship to follow. Burial will be at Romsdahl Lutheran Cemetery.