Mona Grace Rush

Mona Grace (Swank) Rush, age 85, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Austin. Mona was born on November 1, 1939, in Austin, Minnesota, to Donald and Mildred (Browning) Swank. She attended Catholic schooling and graduated from St. Augustine’s High School (now Pacelli).

Donnie Rush wandered into Mona’s life when she was a young 14-year-old girl. Their friendship blossomed. They married May 4, 1957, at Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Austin, Minnesota. Together they raised three children, Kelly, Mark, and Lisa. The couple owned a successful business, Rush Masonry. Mona served as bookkeeper for the business. Years later, April 1, 1996, Mona opened Ye Olde Country Shoppe, a popular home décor and gift shop on Main Street, Austin. She enjoyed a fabulous 10 year run before retiring in 2006.

Over the years, Mona has lived her best life doing what she loves: travel, annual fishing trips up north (Northern Minnesota) with her family, decorating her home and the homes of others, playing the lottery, crossword puzzles, and needlepoint. She loved her children and grandchildren and was especially tickled with her six great-grandchildren. Mona was a devout Catholic, a member of Queen of Angels Parish, and she and Don often volunteered their time and services to the Annunciation Hermitage.

Mona is survived by her husband, Donald Rush; daughters, Kelly (Jay Lutz) Rush, and Lisa (Mark) Rush White; grandchildren, Christopher (Victoria) Lutz, Sean (Kayla) Lutz, Alexandra (Casey) Johnson, and Isaac White; great-grandchildren, Audriana, Andrew, Oliver, Abigail, Lennox, and Alexander; and sister, Dotsy Twedt. She was preceded in death by her son, Mark Rush; parents, Donald and Mildred Swank; and brother, Jerry LaVerne Swank.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Mona will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Austin. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery, Austin. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Annunciation Hermitage, 1009 Oakland Ave. E., Austin, the Mower County Humane Society, 101 22nd St. SE, Austin, or donor’s choice. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.