Delbert L. Rule

Delbert L. Rule, 65, died Friday, April 5, 2013 at Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, KS. A funeral service was held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington. Fr. David Metz officiated. Burial was in the Linn City Cemetery. Delbert Lee Rule was born July 20, 1947 in Colorado, the son of Raymond and Maxine Rule. He graduated in 1965 from Norton High School, where he was a standout wrestler, finishing 3rd in his weight class at the state tournament during his senior year. He was active in Future Farmers of America (FFA), drama, wrestling, and football. Shortly after graduating high school Delbert joined the U.S. Army. He was a tank platoon leader during his time in the Army. He remained a member of the Army National Guard in Clay Center for years after leaving active duty. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1970 with a B.S. In Agricultural Education. At Kansas State he was a member of the club soccer team, as well as staying active with FFA. He married Judy Smith, his high school sweetheart, on August 16, 1967. This union blessed the couple with three children who survive Delbert. Regina , Mark (Julie) Rule , and Kristi (Ed) Kirkwood Judy passed away in 2003. In 1970 Delbert and his family moved to Linn, Kansas where he taught vocational agriculture and led the Future Farmers of America program at Linn High School. He helped shape the lives of several young men and women in his capacity as a teacher over the next 8 years. He was a natural born teacher, a skill that he continued to nurture even after he moved on to different professions. Delbert also had a successful career selling insurance for New York Life, as well as several years in the manufacturing industry with Linn Enterprise and Hutchinson Melrath. He was a gifted stone worker and his handiwork is still evident at several fountains and walls in the Kansas area, including the display at the Washington county airport. Delbert had many hobbies but his most passionate endeavor was black powder shooting and camping. He was a founder of the Republican Valley Muzzleloader association and enjoyed participating in rendevous and camping events for many years. He has been known as Grey Wolf in these circles and that is how many people will remember him. Delbert is survived by his mother, Maxine Turner; brothers Darrel, Roger, Larry, and Bruce; Children Regina, Mark, and Kristi; and 8 grandchildren: Noah, Philip, and Ethan Conners, Madison, Skylar and Austin Rule, and Kyle and Karrissa Kirkwood. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Delbert L. Rule, please visit our flower store.