Wallace "Wally" Rustad of Leesburg, Virginia died Sunday, February 17, 2019. Born January 12, 1937 to Sever and Ella Rustad, on their farm in Western North Dakota, Wally got his early education alongside siblings and friends at West Bonetraill School No. 2, a one-room schoolhouse under the direction of his sister, Jeanne. After a stint in the US Army in Germany, Wally attended Minot State University, where he met and married Marlys Jacobson of Crosby, ND. Upon graduation, Wally and Marlys, now parents, taught school in Williston, ND. Wally taught high school history and literature. An interest in politics presented an opportunity for Wally in 1965, when he came to Washington, and served as legislative assistant to Hon. Rolland Redlin in the U.S. House of Representatives. After 2 years, he and his young family returned to North Dakota where Wally worked for Basin Electric Cooperative. But Wally came back to Capitol Hill in 1970, this time as chief of staff and senior spokesman for U.S. Congressman Arthur Link.

With experience gained in government and rural electrification, Wally went on to a position with the NRECA—National Rural Electric Cooperative Association—where he soon became Director of Government Relations. His work at NRECA was widely recognized, and NRECA wielded considerable influence as a tenacious defender of rural electrification.

For several years thereafter, Wally served as state liaison for U.S. Senator Kent Conrad, a lifelong friend and colleague who had once been an intern under Wally at Congressman Redlin's office. Later, coming out of retirement, Wally served as Sen. Conrad's interim chief of staff, helping the senator navigate personnel changes and legislative challenges, for which the senator expressed gratitude in a tribute on the senate floor. North Dakota's one-time Senator Quentin Burdick described Wally as "…a small-town North Dakotan who has made it big in Washington. He has a genuine commitment to serving the people of rural America."

Wally loved his church and was a founding member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 1971 in Reston, VA. Later he served as co-chair on the building committee for the new church dedicated in June, 2008.

He was passionate about baseball and could recite names of players and the positions they played, back to the 1920's.

As much as anything, Wally was a great husband, father, grandfather, friend, and companion—one who loved a good story, especially when it gave him a chance to exhibit his wry humor. His generous spirit was always on display. His family was the center of his universe. He was loved by so many in the Washington, DC area, in Leesburg, his home of recent years, and by many more in his beloved home state of North Dakota. He will be remembered so fondly by all of us.

Wally is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Jeanne, Sylvia, and Viola, and brother Theodore "Ted". He is survived by his wife Marlys, daughters Kim (Clark) Kelly of Mobile, AL, and Jill (Jon) Adler, of Leesburg, VA and son Jon of Tucson, AZ; grandchildren Avery, Kate, and William Kelly, Julia, Jami, and Jessica Adler, and Syver Rustad; his sisters Delores Lorenz, Spokane, WA, Marlaine (Robert) Slaaen, Grand Forks, ND, and Evelyn Heide, Billings, MT, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Ronald and DiAnn Jacobson, Dorene and Gary Biesemeier, Byron and Glenda Jacobson,  and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road NE, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, Friday, Mar 1, 6-8 p.m.; Memorial Service Saturday, Mar 2, 11 a.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1133 Reston Avenue, Herndon, VA 20170, then reception at the church, followed by burial at Union Cemetery 323 N King St, Leesburg, VA 20176, 2:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Wally's name to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at the above address, or to Operation Home Front, 45975 Nokes Blvd., Suite 150, Sterling, Va. 20165