June Rutledge

Marilyn June  Rutledge “June”, died peacefully in her sleep Friday, March 25, 2022. Born in Onaga, KS on June 15, 1933, to Raymond and Winifred Taylor, June grew up on the family farm in Lillis. Upon graduating from high school, she moved to Manhattan and was employed at Farm Bureau insurance.

While living in Manhattan she met Bob Rutledge and became a lifelong KSU fan. They were married August 8, 1953, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lillis. His commitment to ROTC took the young couple to Georgia for training and then to California, where their first child was born. The young family soon moved back to the family farm in Dover, where they would raise a family and become part of the community.  She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend, and grandmother, who made her children and grandchildren’s school activities and sporting events a major part of her life. Her devotion to friends and family was endless. She would drop everything to sit with the sick, bring dinner to a family in need, or take an ill grandchild to the doctor. Awww…the cinnamon rolls! June was notorious for her rolls and her lifelong love of baking. They were delicious and served to many family members, football players and hunters.  She and Bob were the purveyors of  their own petting zoo. The grandkids loved coming to their farm and manygrade school classes visited for  fun field trips with the animals. We all knew it was their way to entice the grandkids to their home, and boy did it work! The farm promised days of games, stories, fun, humor and memories that will last forever with her now adult grandkids. Another hat worn by June was that of “Mrs Bus Driver”. Her tiny 5’3” frame handled those school buses like a shopping cart. We believe she chose this job as a way to have the same hours as her children, but we also believe it was so she could spend time with the children of her community AND keep an eye on her children’s antics! Upon Bob’s retirement, they achieved their goal of going to all Big 12 campuses to watch their beloved Wildcats play football. Their blood ran purple, and they never missed a Bill Synder Bowl Game.

June was preceded in death by Bob, her husband of 53 years, her parents, brother Roger and sister LuAnn. She is survived by many who will miss her dearly, including her children: Cindy (Kevin), Pat (Cindy), Tom (Brenda), Jane (Jim) and Lynn (Ford); grandchildren, Sami, Jake, Cole, Jess, Casey, Austin, Winnie, Coupe and Emma; 5 great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A private graveside memorial will be held at a later date. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to their favorite charity in June’s name.