Elizabeth Ann Rus Boender was born on May 10, 1933, at her parents’ home in Pella, Iowa, where her life of faith and service began. She passed away on March 3, 2026, at the age of 92 at the Oskaloosa Care Center where she was well cared for.
She was the seventh of eight children born to Leonard and Elizabeth (Van Steenwyk) Rus. She was baptized as an infant in the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella and made profession of her faith at the age of 17 on March 11, 1950.
Elizabeth attended Pella Christian Grade School and Pella Christian High School, where she served as a class officer and was active in basketball and music. After graduating, she played basketball for John Deere Des Moines Works in Ankeny while working in the office there.
Elizabeth married Harry Boender on May 7, 1954, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. After Harry was discharged from the Army, they lived in rural New Sharon, Iowa, where they farmed until1990.
They later moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa. Elizabeth and Harry were longtime members of the Oskaloosa First Christian Reformed Church, where she again taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. She was also active for decades in Coffee Break Bible studies at church. At the age of 56, Elizabeth was hired by Diamond Shelter and worked in a Residential Care Facility home for 14 years.
Six children were born to Elizabeth and Harry: Steve, twins Donna and Dan, Doug, Bill, and Beth. In addition to raising their family, Elizabeth opened her home to more than 20 foster children, many of whom lived with disabilities.
She also cared for an elderly aunt, her aging mother, and her mother-in-law at various times. Caring for the lonely and marginalized came naturally to her, and she was used by God to bless many people with His love. Elizabeth’s life was a living testament to compassion, as she faithfully cared for family, foster children, and all who needed love, dignity, and belonging.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Boender on November 29, 2020; her son Daniel; her great-grandson Ryker, and five siblings, Margaret VanderPoort, Pete Rus, Jake Rus, Germ Rus, and Katherine Kallemyn.
She is survived by her children and thier spouses, Steve and Jan Boender of rural Oskaloosa, Donna and Roger Prins of Barnes City, Doug and Ginger Boender of rural New Sharon, William “Bill” and Julie Boender of rural New Sharon, and Beth and Dan Trumble of Colorado Springs, Colorado, five children, 25 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and one on the way, and 3 great- great-grandchildren and one on the way; a sister, Bernice Kelderman of Ankeny; and a brother, Charles Rus of Pella.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Brian Ochsner officiating. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 Saturday morning in the fellowship hall of the church led by Reverend Jonathan Spronk. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Friday after 1:00 p.m. in the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa and the family will be at the church from 4-7 Friday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to Oskaloosa Christian Grade School. A complete obituary will follow.
