Michael John Rude

Mike was born in Ada, MN on September 26th, 1951 to DeFloren and Edna (Olson) Rude, the youngest of three adventurous boys. While he was still wet behind the ears, his parents moved to a tiny town in northern Minnesota (Puposky), where he spent his days in idyllic boyhood bliss that included riding and caring for his horse, Duchess, inventing and creating new ways to play in the sand, and building things out of wood or any other materials he could scrounge up. As the baby of the family, he had little responsibility and therefore possessed a lot of free time to daydream and devise ways to entertain people using his gregarious nature.

DeFloren was the principal at the school on the Red Lake Indian Reservation during those years, and this was where Mike began his formal education, attending first and second grade. During this formative time in his life, his parents also did mission work at the Redby Mission, and when Mike was 5 years old, he heard a message on the importance of not having a hard heart. The Spirit tugged and he answered the call to become a disciple of Jesus. At that time God placed in him a tender heart with a sensitivity to, and hunger for, the Word and the things of the Lord, which resulted in a desire to serve and a love for others. He demonstrated this throughout his life as he jumped at any chance to lend a helping hand or give an encouraging word to others, displaying Jesus’ love in practical ways as he walked faithfully with God. As the years passed, he grew in maturity, wisdom, and tenderness towards the things of the Lord that became the hallmark of his life.

Adversity often brings opportunity, and it was such a situation that led to one of his other loves, the violin. What started as an escape grew into a passion that he used to bless his family and church, ultimately landing him in the first chair in the high school orchestra as well as parts in college and community orchestras.

In 1971 the War in Vietnam was raging, and when Mike’s draft number-31-arrived in the mail, he hurriedly enlisted in the Air Force, gaining skills as a medic and escaping the jungles of Vietnam in the snowbanks of Alaska until his honorable discharge in 1975.

Fifty years seems like a lifetime to spend with someone, but when it is the love of your life, the years fly by, and such was the case for Mike and Jane, the love of his youth (and her childhood, but that’s a story for another day!). Together they raised 4 children, and as a result are blessed with 9 grandchildren and 1+ great-grandchild.

After leaving the Air Force and getting married, Mike earned a degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Music before completing his Masters in Telecommunications. His career spanned a variety of positions, where his helpful nature and knack for problem-solving served him well. He worked for the telephone company, an agriculture company, and retired as a field agent from Safegate, a Swedish company that took him traveling around the world! He regaled his family with stories from his international travel to Brazil (during the 2014 World Cup!), Dubai (where he brought frankincense, myrrh, and saffron from street vendors at a steal), Sweden, Australia, and Canada. No matter where Mike traveled, domestically or internationally, he would strike up a friendly conversation with a stranger and inevitably soon found out that they had some distant connection – no exaggeration! He loved talking with people and telling stories and was always open to hearing what the Lord would have him say to the people he met.

He loved to invent new means of doing things – and specialized in Rube-Goldberg inventions that worked well but sometimes made Jane scratch her head! He loved woodworking and building things, camping (he was the designated camp cook), gardening, making maple syrup with Jane, Ham radio, music, preparedness, and hunting. Anyone who knew him knew he could fix anything, and his family and friends often called on him for help and he gladly answered any call. He traveled to Norway and Sweden multiple times and, as Jane says, could speak fluent Norg-lish!

In addition to all his interests and expertise, Mike was best-known for his love of the Lord, and his kind and tender servant’s heart. He was passionate about true worship and sensitive about hearing from God, which he did often. His faith continues to be an inspiration to his family, even while he is rejoicing in the presence of his Saviour.

Mike passed away from cancer on February 25th, 2026 and was preceded in death by his mother and father (Edna and DeFloren Rude) and brother Ron Rude and Ron’s wife, Karen. He is survived by his beloved wife Jane, children: Peder (Gretchen), Aaron (Michelle), Josh (Shawna), Emily (Dan) and grandchildren: Madaline (Wesley), Brady (Suze), Ellie, Elijah, Satchel, Aubrey, Abram, Juniper, Mirabelle and great-granddaughter, Sadie. Also survived brother Steve (Rebecca), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial service will be held Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 2 p.m. at The Bridge Bible Church, 701 Rivard St., Somerset WI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations made in Mike’s memory to Adoray Hospice (Adoray.org) or First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ.org) would bless Mike and Jane.