Monica Rustan, 91, died on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at MeritCare Northwest in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, May 21, 2009 at Faith Lutheran Brethren Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. George Davis officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be from 5-8 PM on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Faith Lutheran Brethren Church with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service at the church. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.

Monica Doreen Erickson was born July 18, 1917 in Grand Forks County, ND, the daughter of Anton and Marie (Peterson) Erickson. She grew up in Reynolds, ND and attended school there. She worked at house keeping and cooking.

On September 9, 1936, Monica was united in marriage to Bernhard Rustan in Badger, MN. The couple made their home at Greenbush, MN. They moved to Thief River Falls, MN in 1961, where Monica worked in the Thief River Falls school system as cook for Northrup, Franklin and Knox Schools. She was head cook at Franklin, retiring in 1989. She was a proud member of the Teamsters union. She also did some baby sitting.

Monica was a member of Faith Lutheran Brethren Church, Thief River Falls. She raised chickens for years and was known affectionately as the Egg Lady . Monica at one time had over 500 hens. She liked flowers, gardening and canning.

She is survived by 3 children: Lola Wiskow, Thief River Falls, MN, Diane (Wayne) Johnson, Thief River Falls, MN and Brad Rustan, Moorhead, MN; 8 grandchildren, Debra, Duane, Marty, Terry, Roxy, Brandon, Brittany and Brenda; 7 great grandchildren: Kara, Shawn, Aaron, Ethan, Taylor, Dakota and Ashleigh; one great great grandchildren, a brother, Noral (Geri) Erickson, Pine River, MN; 2 sisters, Ione Ralph, Thief River Falls, MN and Stella Tipp, Minneapolis, MN.

Monica is preceded by husband, Bernhard, November of 1984; parents; 3 brothers, Arling, Vernon and Elroy, son in law Wallace Wiskow.