Carol Marvel (Rusten) Ryks of Waverly, MN passed away peacefully on Friday, November 25, 2022 surrounded by family.
Carol was born in Willmar, MN on February 23, 1944 to Cora (Erickson) and Peter Rusten. She attended a country school in Priam and went on to high school in Raymond, MN. While in high school she met Allen Ryks, whom she was married to on January 25, 1963. He said she made the best pies and would make the best wife. The first 13 years of their marriage were spent in Willmar, MN as she worked at a local shoe store and managed their own garbage company. Carol and Allen then moved to Raymond, MN where they had a hobby farm. In 1988, they moved to a small acreage in Waverly, MN where Carol worked as a seamstress and in their spare time they would plant expanses of beautiful gardens.
Carol had a passion for sewing and needlework, and she gifted hundreds of quilts to both loved ones and to the local charities for families in need. She was known to be a great conversationalist as she would talk to any stranger and ask meaningful questions to anyone. She was not afraid of hard work and she went on to teach this to the next generation. She was involved at Buffalo United Methodist Church serving however she could. Carol never wanted to draw attention to herself but would always be thinking of ways to bless others with time and energy. She loved challenging anyone to a game of Chinese checkers. She was devoted to her family and loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.
Carol is survived by her sister Mary Jane Stredde; 3 children; Pam (Kevin) Olson, Kevin (Deb) Ryks, and Lorelle (Vern) Quast; 7 grandchildren, Christopher (Jennifer) Ryks, Chelsie (Bob) Bloch, Nathan (Emily) Olson, Andrew (Alexis) Olson, Naomi (Isaac) Paige, Xavier Quast, and Xenia Quast; and 17 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Allen Ryks; her son, Jason Ryks; granddaughter Mariah Christine Olson; parents, Peter and Cora Rusten; sister Eunice and brother Marvin.
Funeral service will be at 11 am on Tuesday, December 6 at United Methodist Church of Buffalo, with visitation at 10 am. Internment at Fairview Cemetery in Raymond, MN. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com