Mark Rust

Mark Conrad Rust, AKA

‘Z’, age 59, Missoula, MT,

passed away on February

22, 2020 at St. Patrick’s

Hospital in Missoula.

Mark was the first born

child of James and Max-

ine Rust, entering this

world on June 18, 1960 in

Powers Lake, ND. He

spent his childhood years

in Columbus, ND graduat-ing from Columbus High

School in 1978.

He earned his Associate

Degree in Forestry Ser-

vices from North Dakota

State University in Bot-

tineau, ND in 1980 and

then later continued his

education at the Universi-ty of Montana in Missoula

in the study of wildlife

biology.

Mark loved living in

Missoula and made it his

permanent home. It is

there that he met his soul

mate, Mary Ann Lorette.

They were married in

1992 at Maxwell’s Bar in

Missoula, the very place

they first set eyes on each

other. Mark discovered

that he had a passion for

cooking and became a

talented chef for various

restaurants in the Missou-la area. He even created a

signature dish he called

the Z Scramble that was

often requested by many

people.

Mark was a gentle,

quiet, and intelligent man.

He often had a book in

hand and a cat on his lap

while watching Jeopardy,

frequently yelling out the

correct answers. He never

left his home without his

signature fedora on his

head.

Mark is survived by his

wife, Mary Ann of Mis-

soula, MT; brother, Jon

Rust (Tammie) of Lolo,

MT; sister, Marla Triplett

(Marty Werner) of Minot,

ND; several nieces and

nephews; beloved cousin

(but more like a brother),

Scott Bakke (Terri) of Far-

go, ND; and his furry fe-

line friends Baldr,

Brunhilde and Minerva.

He was preceded in

death by his father in

2011 and his mother just

19 days before him.

A private celebration of

life is being planned for

later this summer.