Karmen! (Rust) .

Karmen!, age 48 of Glenwood, died Thursday, November 8, 2018 at the Glenwood Retirement Village. Visitation will be 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. with a memorial service celebrating her life at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 17th at Chippewa Falls Lutheran Church in Terrace with Duane Danielson officiating. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Carmen Diane Rust (aka K!, Karmen!) was born April 25, 1970, at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN, to parents Harvey and Carolyn (Rinken) Rust. She was a lifelong member of Chippewa Falls Lutheran Church, where she was baptized, attended Sunday school and was confirmed. Carmen graduated from Glenwood High School in 1988. She then attended Willmar Community College, the University of Minnesota Duluth, and the University of Northwestern St. Paul. 

Carmen has always been very unique and loved to challenge the status quo by wondering, “Why can’t I do it this way?”  Carmen’s passions included art, writing poetry, reading, and plants. Her house was filled with plants that she grew, talked to, prayed with, and took great joy from. She also had a deep love for her dogs, Jessy and Penny. Carmen resided in the Minneapolis area until 1998, when she moved back to live on “Seven”. In Carmen’s words, “One choosing their own joy, her birthright of her seven acres”. She loved living in the country. Carmen was united in marriage to James Bergman on October 24, 2004. She resided on “Seven”, near Terrace, MN, until 2016 when she moved her house into Glenwood. Carmen spent her last months at the Glenwood Retirement Village due to health complications, surrounded by friends, family and an amazing nursing staff.

Carmen’s mantra was, “Choose Joy!” She had a never-ending positive attitude and believed that everyone was able to achieve whatever they dreamed.

Carmen is survived by her husband, James Bergman; her parents, Harvey and Carolyn Rust; siblings, Shane (Stephanie) Rust and Kyle (Holly) Rust; nephews, Cody, Eli and Jed; and her faithful companion Penny the dog, all of Glenwood.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.