Evelyn Mae Rush

Evelyn Mae Valentine was born December 16, 1918, in Egan, South Dakota, to James and Myrtle (Bemis) Valentine. She grew up on the family homestead west of Egan and graduated from Egan High School in 1937. Evelyn obtained her cosmetology and beautician license and owned and operated her shop in Colman for five years.

She was united in marriage to John J. Rush on May 28, 1942, in Colman. After the marriage, they lived in Colman where she continued to operate her beauty salon, and her husband farmed on his grandmother's homestead located three miles north and 1 and 1/12 miles east of Lone Tree, South Dakota.

They moved on to the farm, which they operated a diary business and farmed until retiring in 1975. There sons, Val and David, took over the family farm at that time. For several years they opened their home to foster children.

In 1975 they moved to Wall, South Dakota, where they were both employed at the Wall Drug Store during the summer months and spent the winter months with their children. From 1977 on they continued to live in Wall. Her husband, John, preceded her in death on August 27, 1978. She continued to work fulltime at the Wall Drug Store until January 1985, when she became associated with her son, Jack and his family in the operation of the Rush Funeral Homes in Wall, Philip, and Kadoka.

Evelyn was a member of St. Patrick Church and the Wall Book Club, both of Wall, a former member of St. Peter's Catholic Church and St. Patrick's Catholic Church Altar Society of Colman, Catholic Daughters of American of Colman, and an active 4-H leader in Moody county for many years. Evelyn was also a member and very active in China Pantry Club as well as Oil Pantry.

Survivors include five sons, David Rush, of Egan, Dick Rush of Omaha, Nebraska, Val Rush of Egan, Jack Rush of Philip, and James Rush of Omaha, Nebraska; two daughters, Margaret (Phil) Kuntz of Clay City, Kentucky, and Mary Jane (Brad) Hover, of Omaha, Nebraska; fifteen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; one foster child, Penny Waldon of Brookings; two brothers, John Valentine of Egan, and Ivan Valentine of Ft. Collins, Colorado; one sister, Margie (Casey) Chamley of Egan; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John, on August 27, 1978, and one brother, Virgil Valentine.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Thursday, April 17, 1997
10:00 a.m.
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Wall, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father John J. Corry

INTERMENT
St. Peter's Catholic Church Cemetery
Colman, South Dakota

Service Details