Kelsey L. Rusch

Kelsey Lynn Rusch, 33, Minot, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in her home on December 8th, 2024.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, December 23 at St. Anne Church 1321 Braman Ave, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM with a vigil service starting at 6:00 PM, Sunday, December 22 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. 

Interment at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Kelsey was born on June 19, 1991 in Bismarck, ND to Darin and Shellie Rusch. She was the beloved first child and first grandchild on both sides and was lucky to know most of her great-grandparents. She was the proud oldest sibling to her younger brother, Tanner, and younger sisters, Kylie, Lexie, Madisyn, and Rachel.

Kelsey was tremendously intelligent and demonstrated it from childhood. She would talk to anyone she met in perfectly formed sentences at fifteen months of age. She started teaching herself to read at the age of three. Kelsey was always exceedingly creative and created many games, challenges, and activities for her younger siblings as she grew older. Jen and Jess, neighbors and lifelong friends, were always roped into her latest antics. Some of the family’s favorites included the Capitol quiz, “Now That’s Roadkill”, Floppy Fish, Crops and Minnows, “Trapped in the Desert with Anakin”, and “Oh, Danny Boy”. Kelsey’s mind was a marvel to behold. She never needed to study for tests and graduated from Bismarck High School at the age of sixteen. She was the world’s best proofreader. She was currently learning multiple languages on Duolingo.

Music was in Kelsey’s blood. Piano, flute, and bari sax were her main instruments, but she could figure out any instrument she could get her hands on (and yes, Kels, I know that is a dangling preposition but I’m leaving it in anyway. It’s payback for making me count the blades of grass between our house and the Capitol). She was always the lowest alto in the choir, and schooled others with her karaoke skills. She had an eclectic taste in music and loved discovering musicians who had not yet made it big. She was obsessed with Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, First Aid Kit, and Greta Van Fleet. She always felt she should have been born in the 50s or 60s so she could have been a teenager or young adult in the 70s. She would have been in her element at Woodstock.

Kelsey tried many sports growing up, but hockey was the one that stuck. She traveled around the state with the Avalanche and Blizzard hockey teams, winning the state championship multiple times. Her family was always cheering her on from the stands. Kelsey kept the seat of the penalty box warm. She was an aggressive player, and her favorite move was checking from behind. Our dad tells a story of when he was announcing a game and a referee came over to ask which penalty he should call for Kelsey, because she had multiple. My dad laughed and insisted he put her in for all of them, even if it meant she would be in for several minutes. 

Kelsey loved photography and was captivated by maps. This combination led her to physically take the road less traveled to explore abandoned buildings and ghost towns. From behind her camera lens, she could transform dilapidated shacks into beautiful pieces of art, highlighting the beauty of time gone past. She never wanted to fly, even if it meant driving nineteen hours to Portland, because driving allowed her to explore. She explored every nook and cranny of North Dakota, from Anamoose to Zap. Sometimes she explored alone, other times she brought along family and friends. Some of the best explorations with her family included the lift bridge and tunnel in Fairview and the camping trip to the Icelandic State Park. Did you know that North Dakota has a pyramid and a castle? Kelsey did, and she has pictures to prove it. During her extensive travels, she posted pictures to Google Maps and her photos received over one million views, an accomplishment of which she was extremely proud. Her photos were also featured on the “Ghosts of North Dakota” website and published in one of their books. Her immense knowledge of the history of North Dakota could enthrall anyone who wanted to listen. She treated North Dakota as a treasure hunt.

Kelsey loved to debate, just for the sport of it. She could debate anything, even her own opposing views. She also had a ceaseless need to correct the grammar of any written word. In order to help her have the last laugh, I will say it one more time for her: Bismarck Tribune, KX, and KFYR, please work on your editing. Our local news sources need to have the ability to use the correct form of “there”.

Kelsey was the definition of a loyal friend. Once you were a friend of Kelsey, you were always her friend. She met her best friends, our neighbors Jen and Jess, when she was six, and never left their side. She loved fiercely, with an astonishing power. She never held judgment toward those to whom society deemed the lowest, but rather would give whatever she had to someone in need, even if it left her with nothing. All were welcome with Kelsey.

Kelsey was preceded in death by her beloved grandma, Marlys Lindemann.

She is survived by her grandparents Fred and Jean Rusch and Don Lindemann, Bismarck; parents Darin and Shellie Rusch, Bismarck; siblings Tanner (Danielle) Rusch, Kylie (Allan) Doppler, Lexie (Ethan) Birnbaum, Bismarck, Madisyn Rusch, Fargo, and Rachel (Jacob) Nistler, Grand Forks; nieces Alaina, Avery, Joan, Addison, and nephew Lawrence; cousins Kennedie, Keaton, and Shelby; aunts Lisa, JoAnn, Crystal; uncles Jason, Tyler, Kent, Scott, and Brent, and her beloved dog Arlo and cat Kashmir.

We are broken-hearted. Our worlds will never be the same without you, Kelsey. You were not supposed to leave us this early in your life, but we take comfort in the hope of God’s great mercy. We know He loves you more than we ever could. We pray you will be greeted in heaven by Grandma Lindemann, whom you loved so deeply.