Marilyn Maxine Waite was born on Tuesday, October 4, 1935 at William Newton Memorial Hospital in Winfield, KS. She weighed 8 Ibs. and 4 oz. and had an abundance of dark hair.

Maxine was raised by her parents O. Boyd and Delores Waite, on the Walnut Valley Hereford Ranch Northwest of Winfield, KS. Maxine was later joined by two brothers: Dwaine and Larry. The Waites walked (uphill both ways) to Red Top Country School. Maxine attended Winfield High School and Kansas State University. Music, 4-H projects and Hereford cattle were important activities. The Waite’s worshiped at the First Presbyterian Church in Winfield.

Maxine married her childhood sweetheart, Arlos Rusk from Wellington, KS on Sunday, November 20th, 1955. The Rusks spent their first five years of marriage at Cedar Nole Hereford Farm south of Wellington, KS. To this union, five children were born including: Greg, Clint, Mona, Robin and Clay!

In 1960, the Rusks purchased a ranch near Sun City, KS. The new property was immediately named Rusk Ranch. This ranch, located in western Barber County in the heart of the Gyp Hills, was where Maxine lived for 55 years. She helped Arlos host numerous Field Days on the ranch for 4-Hand FFA members, with the first Field Day held in their front yard. This arrangement only lasted one year, as Maxine insisted on a different location. Through the years, the Field Days continued to grow until 1974 when the Rusk Ranch hosted the All-American Hereford Dream that drew a crowd of 5,000 people to the ranch on July 19th when the temperatures soared to around 100 degrees. Maxine was an active 4-H leader, the first Vice President of the Kansas Hereford Auxiliary and later became President of the American Hereford Auxiliary.

Maxine asked the Lord into her heart and was baptized on September 18, 1980. She was a foundational member of the Father’s House of Worship in Sun City, KS. Next to the Lord, her passion was her family, especially the children. She moved to Stillwater, OK on January 31, 2016 to be closer to her family. Maxine was thrilled to have 13 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. She also declared the in-laws are great, too.

Maxine was a faithful prayer warrior, who nightly lifted each family member to the Lord. As the family grew, so did the length of her prayer time! Special friends included: Jean Hackney, Judy Byers, Lois Belisle, Vivian Cross and all the brethren at The Father’s House of Worship in Sun City, Kansas, where she faithfully attended for 20 years.

Maxine firmly declared that the step of Salvation is the most important decision you will ever make, and you might say she harped on it. Maxine lived her life loving others well and forgiving often. She looked forward to meeting her Savior Jesus Christ and hearing him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Marilyn Maxine Rusk, is honored here today for a life well lived. She was known as beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin and dear friend. Maxine cherished her five children and her memories with them: Greg (Yana) Rusk of Wichita, KS; Clint (Madeleine) Rusk of Kansas City, KS; Mona Miller, Stillwater, OK; Robin (Bill) Phipps of Kearney, NE; Clay (Alison) Rusk of Medicine Lodge, KS.

13 Grandchildren: Wrex (Stefane) Phipps, Wravenna (Blake) Bloomberg, Shane (Julie) Rusk, Micah (Osayamen) Imade, Waco (Amber) Phipps, Casha (Brady) Short, Ashley Rusk, Jeremy (Cassidy) Miller, Warner ( Amanda) Phipps, Anna (Trent) Sorrell, Carlee Rusk, Caden ( Lexie) Rusk, and Rooslana (Tyler Boyle) Rusk. Her legacy continues on leaving 24 Great Grand Children: Sawyer, Wryder, Sayble & Syenna Phipps of Haxtun, CO; Breckyn, Berwick, Brenhem & Bexton Bloomberg of Secor, IL; Kolby, Kyle, Alexis, Wyatt Phipps of Minneapolis, KS; Leah & Adriana Imade of Tulsa, OK; Tucker, Kollyns, Quinn Sorrell of Stillwater, OK; Ellis, Hampton & Perri Short of Wellington, KS; Jameson & Jackson Largent of Wichita, KS; Avani Miller of Isabel, KS, and Willa Phipps of Denver, CO. Additional loved ones include: a sister-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, plus countless friends.

Visitation with family receiving friends will be Friday, July 10, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m. at First Christian Church, 300 S. Main St, Medicine Lodge. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 11, 2026 at First Christian Church with Pastor Tom Walters and Clint Rusk presiding. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge. A lunch will be provided at First Christian Church.

Memorials may be made to American Angus Foundation, St. Joe, Missouri, Fathers House of Worship, Sun City, Kansas, Christian Appalachian Project, Kentucky, Barber County 4-H or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.