Rock Rustad

>Rock’s services will be livestreamed and viewable below starting at 7:00 PM Tuesday, March 25 and 11:00 AM W

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ednesday, March 26:

Rock Rustad, age 64, passed away on March 19, 2025, in his home from natural causes.

Rock Ryan Rustad was born January 5, 1961, to Donald and Janice Rustad of Kindred. Rock was a lifetime resident of Kindred. He graduated from the Kindred High School Class of ’79. Rock was active in Kindred FFA, Wrestling, Cass County 4-H, and North Dakota High School Rodeo. He showed steers at 4-H Achievement Days and his horse at 4-H horse shows and the Red River Valley Fair. He was awarded trips to Chicago and Winnipeg through his involvement in 4-H. In high school Rodeo Rock participated in Calf Roping, Team Roping, and Boys Cow Cutting qualifying for State and National Finals all four years.

After graduation Rock attended North Dakota State School of Science and completed his education with a degree in Agricultural Business and returned to work in the family business, where he spent the rest of his career. It was often said  “Rustad’s – We do anything from the cradle to the grave” and Rock enjoyed all the different aspects of the business including farming, ranching, livestock hauling, operating heavy equipment, and even digging graves. As an adult Rock found a love for fishing and enjoyed going on fishing trips to Canada with his brothers-in-law as well as local fishing outings with his good friend Todd.

In 1988 Rock met the love of his life – Georgeann Welsch. Rock and Georgeann were married on June 14, 1992, and set up their new life together on the same farm/ranch and in the same house where Rock grew up. In 1993 they welcomed their only child, Sara Ray, to the family. Rock enjoyed being a dad and loved to teach Sara everything related to farm work from raising pigs, steers, and horses to running farm equipment and hauling hay bales. Rock continued to support Sara with 4-H projects, Jr High and High School Rodeo and even starting a goat contracting business. Rock was a long-time member of the Kindred Fire Department, Sheyenne Red River Rodeo Club, Kindred FFA Alumni, served as a director on the ND Jr High Rodeo Association board of Directors and was a trustee for the Kindred Methodist Church in Kindred.

Rock was preceded in death by an infant brother; his father, Don; grandparents, Ivan and Merle Rustad and Alma Sandvig; infant grandson, Bronc; father in-law, George Welsch; and infant great-niece, Westlyn Praus.

He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Georgeann; mother, Janice, both of Kindred; daughter, Sara (Tyler) Hopfauf; grandchildren, Bo Priewe, Dusty, Josie and Rock Hopfauf, all of Forsyth MT; mother-in-law, Jody Uffer of Roseville, MN; brother, Rick Rustad; sisters, Ronda Alvarez and Rochelle Rustad, all of Kindred; brothers-in-law, John (Terri) Welsch of Moorhead, Joe (Nikki) Welsch of Moorhead MN, Jim Welsch of Minneapolis, MN; nieces and nephews, Alaetra (Aaron) Davis, Austin Alvarez (Jess Fleck), Arianna Alvarez (Eric Howe), Zoe (Dillon) Praus, Rina Rustad, Zach Welsch, Molly Welsch; and great nephew, Lincoln Praus; along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.

A prayer service will be held on Tuesday March 25, 2025 at Fredrikson-Boulger Funeral Chapel, Kindred. Visitation from 6-7 pm and service at 7. The funeral service will be at the Kindred Lutheran Church at 11:00 am on Wednesday March 26, 2025 with visitation starting at 10:00 A.M. The funeral will be live-streamed by Fredrikson-Boulger Funeral Chapel, Kindred. Burial will be in the Kindred Cemetery.