Cindy Rubbelke

Cindy Rubbelke, 61, of Minot, passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at Trinity Hospital after a courageous 15 month battle with cancer. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family.

Cindy was born on May 8, 1956, in Minot, the youngest of Gordon and Ida Mae (Starleaf) Smith's three daughters. She was raised and educated in Makoti, learning the value of hard work at Smith's Jack and Jill. She graduated from North Shore High School in 1974 and attended NDSU for two years before transferring to UND, where she graduated with a BA in Communication Disorders and minored in Audiology. She completed her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from UND in 1979. Her passion for working with kids, especially those with multiple needs, inspired a lifelong career of helping children in various school settings.

Cindy married her soulmate-Dean Rubbelke-on Aug. 18, 1978, at Hope Lutheran Church in Makoti. Cindy and Dean lived in Grand Forks (1979-1981), while Cindy worked in the Thompson Public School System. They made their home in Arvada, Colo., for two years (1981-1982), where Cindy worked in a nonverbal classroom at the Margaret Walters School. They later moved to Beulah (1982-1989) and then to Hazen (1989-1996), while she worked at the Oliver-Mercer Special Education Unit, serving several schools in the area. When she and Dean moved to Minot in 1996, she began her career at Head Start (1996-2017). Her passion for her job encouraged her daughter, Katie, to follow in her footsteps. Cindy's coworkers remember how she always made everyone's day better just by smiling, laughing, and being there.

Cindy and Dean had four beautiful children whom she adored: Michael, Matthew, Kristin, and Katie. Nothing was more important to Cindy than her family. Her most memorable times were spent when all of her kids were under one roof. She had two grandchildren that were her pride and joy. You would often find Cindy playing, cuddling, singing nursery rhymes, and rocking her grandchildren to sleep.

Cindy loved to have fun and was always sharing happiness with others. She traveled with her family throughout the U.S. and Europe. She particularly enjoyed visiting her son and fellow monks of Assumption Abbey. Throughout her whole life, even in her last days, her faith made her who she was. Cindy was full of positive energy. Even when life gave her twists and turns, she never complained and always turned to prayer. Cindy wanted everyone to know how powerful their prayers were: she could feel each and every one. She always wanted to help other people. As an active member of St. John the Apostle's Catholic Church, she taught her beloved students in CCD and led the Confraternity of Christian Mothers for years. She enjoyed her Wednesday night Bunco group as well as working in her flower garden. Cindy will be remembered for her beautiful smile and way of making every one feel important and loved.

Cindy is survived by her husband, Dean; her sons, Michael (Rebecca) Rubbelke of South Bend, Ind., and Brother Symeon Rubbelke, OSB, Richardton; her twin daughters, Katie (Matt) Burckhard, Minot and Kristin Rubbelke, Chicago, Ill.; her beloved grandchildren, Hannah Rubbelke and Graham Burckhard; her mother, Ida Mae Smith, Minot; her sister, Rhonda Smith (Jim Patineau), Minneapolis, Minn.; her brothers-in-law, Charles (Rachel) Stanley, Grayslake, Ill.; Louie Rubbelke, Minot; Gerry (Lil) Rubbelke, Des Lacs; Blaine (Denise) Rubbelke, Des Lacs; her sisters-in-law, Judy (Nick) Garber, Minot and Nancy Rubbelke, Minot; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Cindy was preceded in death by her father, Gordon Smith; infant brother, James Smith; sister, Colleen Stanley; grandparents; in-laws, Francis and Ann Rubbelke; and brother-in-law, Robert Rubbelke.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

Visitation will be Friday, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church.

Vigil Prayer Service will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at the church. Burial at Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.