To watch the service for Sue, please use these links:
Sue Rucker Memorial Service | Facebook
Sue Rucker Celebration of Life – YouTube
Susan Roberta Rucker, age 63, of Plymouth, MN, beloved mom, grandmother, and friend, passed away on August 30, 2021 at United Hospital in St. Paul from COVID with her children by her side. Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 24, 2021 at Open Doors United Methodist Church in Wells with Pastor Chris Leistra officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, Minnesota and will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Eagle Lake Cemetery in Battle Lake, Minnesota. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home of Wells is assisting the family. Please leave online condolences at www.brussheitner.com.
Sue was born to the Reverend Robert and Rhoda Hawkinson on November 15, 1957 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She graduated from Battle Lake High School in 1976, and she received her education as a Licensed Practical Nurse from Fergus Falls Community College in 1977. Sue was united in marriage to Michael Rucker on October 1, 1977. They spent their married years in Wells, and there they raised their four children and later divorced. Sue worked for eighteen years at Naeve Parkview Nursing Home in Wells.
After moving from Wells, Sue lived in the Twin Cities area. She worked as a personal care attendant with the elderly in their homes. Sue loved taking care of others and enjoyed listening to their stories. She also had a love of veterans and organized many veteran luncheons.
Sue was a mother to all. The more the merrier. Sue’s greatest joy were her six grandchildren and she constantly sought out new experiences for them. She always brought the fun.
She loved going to new places and making new friends, and many of the new friends became life-long ones. Those who spent time around the campfire with her soon learned that she was a prankster and that one never knew what to expect when darkness fell. The campfire stories she so enjoyed telling were likely to be accompanied by some loud, sudden, surprise. Her pranks set the tone of the party and were followed by her contagious laughter–a laughter that involved full-body jiggles, snorts, and tears.
Sue had an almost spiritual connection to Ottertail County, so it was appropriate that just before her hospitalization she went to spend time at her beloved Eagle Lake. Little did she know that she had chosen a fitting final union with nature.
Sue is survived by her four children, Joshua (Lisa) Rucker, Eagle Lake; Sarah (Andrew) Rucker-Johanson, St. Peter; Rachael (Francisco) Mixteco, St. Joseph; and Kaitlyn Rucker, Minneapolis; six grandchildren; Jacob and Christopher Rucker, Gabriela and Johanna Johanson, and Aaliyah and Elijah Mixteco; her mother, Rhoda Hawkinson; three sisters: Laela (David) Salvevold, Linne (Gary) Salvevold, and Linda (Lowell) Salvevold, and by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Reverend Robert Hawkinson and Amy Joy Salvevold.
Sincere Sympathy to the Rucker family. Sue will be missed by many. RIP ❤
Deepest sympathy to all the family.
Our deepest sympathy to all of you! It was always fun working with Sue at Parkview!
So sad, prayers for all of your friends and family during this time.
May memories of Sue bring peace, comfort and joy. She sang at our wedding 32 years ago.
Racheal and Poncho and families 🙏🏻😥So sorry for your loss. Our deepest sympathies to all!!
My deepest sympathy to the whole family.
May Sue always Rest In Peace. I am so blessed to have met her and become friends with her. My heart is truly broken. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
My deepest sympathy to her family and her beautiful grandchildren and her sweet mother. Sue will be greatly missed by many
I’ve known Sue for years and I will always have the memories.
So sorry to hear about Sue’s death. She died way to young
Thinking of Sues great family.
Sue was an Angel on earth. Our friendship and family goes back to 1980 when Davey was born. She will be missed by many. Sincere condolences to the kids, the grandkids, Rhoda, and her sisters.
We met sue couple of times only but she was so nice at heart and we had lovely and memorable moments with her. We were missing you a lot sue. May be God required kind hearted people like you that’s the reason he taken you from all of us so early. May rest your soul happily.
Rest in peace my dear friend of many years. You were taken from us way too soon!! Everyone is very heartbroken!! You were defininately an Angel on earth as you will be in Heaven!! I am so sorry for the pain & everything you had to go through, you were an amazing fighter through it all. I am thankful that your children were able to be with you to the end & I pray for them. I love you & miss you & our long talks so much!!
Rest in peace my dear friend of many years. You were taken from us way too soon!! Everyone is heartbroken!! You were definitely an Angel here on earth as you will be in Heaven!! I am so sorry for the pain & everything you had to go through, you were an amazing fighter through it all. I am thankful that your children were able to be with you to the end & I pray for them. I love you & miss you & our long talks so much!!
I’d like to send our deepest sympathies to all of you. My thoughts are with you.
Sue was a special force of nature. She cherished her family and brightened every day. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you for sharing the beautiful story of your mother. I loved visiting with her at the Lenox Center and helping her with the great Veteran’s parties she hosted. We have lost a wonderful lady. My sympathy to each of you. May God bless each of you with His peace. Carol Barthelemy
So sorry to hear of her death! Many memories of her especially when we hosted foreign exchange student.
Rest In Peace Sue.
Prayers for the Rucker Family and friends ❤ may you be comforted knowing that God has His loving arms around you all 💜🙏💜
Prayers for peace
My deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Sue! Virtual BIG hugs to the kids! So heartbroken to hear about your loss.
Deepest sympathies to the Rucker family on Susan’s death. She was such a kind, caring, giving woman. Always putting others before herself even when she had too much on her plate. Rest In Peace dear Susan 🕊
Sue was an open heart for everyone, We were blessed to be part of her adopted family, 13 years of close friendship .She come home at all times she love our Mexican food ,chat about work,family ,friends and much more… She loves dance,food ,music. She greeted everyone with a smile and open heart and home.
We will miss you for ever Sue, our heart is so sad.
We wish you rest in peace, and will continue to pray for all your Family.
Send you Love all the way to heaven ❤
Sue was an open heart for everyone, We were blessed to meet her 13 years of close friendship .She come home at all times she love our Mexican food ,chat about work,family ,friends and much more…
We will miss you for ever Sue, our heart is so sad and feel empty.
We wish you rest in peace, and will continue to pray for all your Family.
Send you Love all the way to heaven
I was so very sad and shocked to hear of Sue’s passing. I knew her for many years as a caregiver to my neighbor. She was so happy to be living in Cimarron East and we all loved knowing her. She was a Beautiful loving Lady in all ways. Blessings of comfort to all of her family and friends.
Sending my deepest sympathy to Sue’s family. She was taken way too soon. Rest in blissful peace Sue!
Rest in piece my dearest friend I will miss those late night visits n talking on the phone i said to u once I liked u like a sister you were always there for everyone deepest condolences to her family but God is there to lift you up
Not only was Sue my housekeeper, she was my friend! I miss her! She was very cherished by my family. Enjoy heaven, you belong there with a right hand seat to God!
Rest In Peace dear Sue. You were like mother to me and one of the people who inspired me to pursue a nursing career. You had a great heart, sweet and had a lot of patience. We have a pending conversation until we meet again my friend. My condolences to her family.
I only knew Sue for about a year, but what a wonderful year it was. She helped me in many ways, and I always looked forward to her sunny smile, her help, just having her around made everything better. My deepest sympathy to all of you. She loved her whole family totally.
I met Sue at the Lenox Center in St. Louis Park, She would bring a Friend to the Dance which was held every Thursday. She was a Caretaker and as soon Sue entered the room she would light up the place with her beautiful smile. What a wonderful and caring person she was. Everyone from the Dance are very sad that she has gone from us. Deepest Sympathy to Sue’s Family. We share your grief .
I was saddened by the news of Sue’s death. We worked together at what was then Freedom Pointe of Minnetonka. We had become good friends. She was a caring nurse and so much fun. When I became a grandma, she gave me a wall hanging that her dad had made. On my wall still. I got to meet Katie. She sure loved and talked about her family. My sincere sympathy to you all. Also 💘 and prayers.
My deepest sympathy to the family of Sue. I remember her well while she was living in Wells. She was such a sweet person. May God comfort you.
Sue will be missed by so many people.
She possessed the biggest heart, and touched so many lives in her life time. I will cherish all the family gatherings our 2 families shared. Cherish all of those memories kids….. it won’t take away the emptiness and pain that you are experiencing, but it will help you get through this. Our love goes out to you. Tom and Deb Trio family.
Sue was my very dear friend for forty-two years, and I could not ask for a more faithful, caring, supportive and thoughtful friend. She was the most vibrant person I’ve ever met, and brought sparkle and joy to people’s lives. Sue looked into the hearts of others, and did not care about age differences, social class, or nationality. She was generous and compassionate, always finding tangible ways to express friendship and concern. May we all learn from her example. I miss her so much, and am praying for God to bring wonderful memories and His deep comfort and love to her family.
Sue was an incredibly caring person, and very special to our family. We met her when she worked at what was then Freedom Pointe, and she was caring for my mother-in-law, Betty Flynn. When Betty passed away, she stayed close friends with my father-in-law, Lloyd. Lloyd was part of the 8th Air-force lunch group, which Sue was very involved in. She also took Lloyd out often, and came to a few of our family gatherings. She was able to visit Lloyd while he was in hospice, before he passed away in December of 2020. That was an emotional visit, and also the last time we saw Sue. I can’t believe she is gone. She remains an inspiration to us. Our sincere condolences to all of Sue’s family, whom she often talked about very lovingly.
I will forever remember you and your care, kindness and love.
And last but certainly not the least, my little sons Summertime Mom!!!