Miriam Lee Rusher

Miriam Lee Rusher joined the heavenly choir on June 11, 2021. Miriam passed away at Timbercrest Healthcare Center in North Manchester, Indiana. She was born in rural Miami County, IN, to Ocal and Wilma (Balsbaugh) Robins on March 28, 1931. At age 6 the family moved to a farm south of North Manchester and Miriam attended grades 1-12 at Laketon Schools, graduating in 1949.  She attended Manchester College 1949-50, then worked a few years at the Heckman Bindery.

Miriam met Dale Rusher at a Church of the Brethren Youth Fellowship meeting; they married June 1, 1952, and lived in rural Kosciusko County.   The couple enjoyed traveling throughout their marriage, seeing all 50 states and much of Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.  Miriam was employed part-time through the years as a poll worker, census taker, and dining room hostess at Timbercrest Senior Living, as well as volunteering her time alongside Dale with the Red Cross and for many other causes.    Miriam was an accomplished seamstress and vegetable gardener.  She always enjoyed time spent out of doors and even as a child preferred to be outside doing chores rather than working in the house.

The love of music was a constant throughout Miriam’s life.   In elementary school she sang harmony in a trio with her 2 older sisters and with Girls Glee Club and Mixed Chorus in High School.   She enjoyed playing clarinet in the school band and was later a member of the North Manchester Civic Band for many years.    Miriam was raised in the Church of the Brethren and held membership in the Manchester congregation for most of her life, singing in choirs from a young age.   She was also active in the Ladies’ Aid for many years.  Miriam was a long- time member of both the Kosciusko County Purdue Extension Jackson Juniors Homemakers Club as well as the County Chorus.  She later joined the Wabash County Chorus.   Other choral groups Miriam thoroughly enjoyed were Almost Sidney, The Peabody Entertainers, and Timbercrest Silvertones.

After moving to North Manchester in 2004, Miriam got her first library card and made up for lost time, reading voraciously.  She enjoyed choosing library books for Timbercrest residents as a volunteer and spent many hours helping at the Food Pantry.

Miriam is survived by 3 children: Cynthia (Dennis) Cole of Westfield and their 2 children Amanda, and Samuel (Jordyn); Michael of North Manchester, and his daughter Sarah (Alfredo) Magallanes; and Kristina (Jon) Reel of Carmel and their daughter, Jessica Thurgood.  She is also survived by 5 great grandchildren and her brother C. Samuel Robins of Apple Valley, CA, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by husband Dale, her parents, and siblings Richard Robins, Elizabeth Wilcox, and Mary Ruth Fowler.

A celebration of Miriam’s life will be held Monday, July 5, 2021 at 12:00 noon with calling beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the North Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 Beckley Street, North Manchester, Indiana. Pastor Kurt Borgmann and Pastor Amy Gall Ritchie will officiate.

For those who wish to honor the memory of Miriam Rusher, memorials may be made to the Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 Beckley Street, North Manchester, Indiana 46962 or Brethren Disaster Ministries, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, Illinois 60120.

The family of Miriam Rusher has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.