Rufus John Muncy

Rufus John Muncy was born September 16, 1918 in Clark County, near Crocker, South Dakota to Joe and Clara Muncy.  He spent his early years in Clark County and attended a country school there.  He moved to the Pine City area and worked on various dairy and grain farms until his enlistment into the United States Army on March 25th of 1942. He served with the 35th Infantry Division in campaigns and battles at Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe, Rhineland and the Ardennes.  He served as second-in-command of an infantry rifle platoon in combat and received the Bronze Star for heroism and the purple heart for wounds received in combat on April of 1945.  He was also captured and held as prisoner of war for 18 days.  Other decorations he received while in service were an EAME service ribbon with silver star, a combat infantry badge and an oak leaf cluster for his purple heart.  Rufus was discharged as a Staff Sergeant on September 3, 1945.  He came back to Pine City and began working in a garage as a mechanic.  Later he became employed at Land-o-Lakes and became their head truck mechanic.  He retired from this company after twenty years of employment. Rufus loved the outdoors.  He spent many hours fishing, both summer and winter.  He also enjoyed snowmobiling.  He and his wife Ruth would take a camping trailer to Arizona for 13 winters.  They made many friends and did a lot of fishing while they were there.  Rufus was also an officer and member of the Wm O. Machart American Legion Post # 347 of Beroun, a charter member of the Novak-Milliren VFW Post # 4258 of Pine City.  He was always more than willing to help anyone.  He usually received the 1st call for any assistance that was needed.  Rufus died Wednesday evening, December 22th at the Mora Villa Health Care Center.  He was 92 years old. He is survived by his sister Lois and her husband Gene McMillan of Huron, South Dakota, a daughter Marlys and her husband Gary Sickler of Mounds View, grandsons Rick Sickler of California and Jeff (Connie) Sickler of Eden Praire, great grandsons Justin and Joshua Sickler, brothers-in-law Maynard and Marvin Tollefson, and many nieces, nephews and friends.  He was preceded in death by his 1st wife Alice Tollefson Muncy ( in 1967)and their baby son Marlin, his second wife Ruth Tollefson Muncy (in 2005), his brother Levi Muncy, his sisters Martha Christensen, Ethel Samuelson, Mable Matthews, Esther Conley, and Clara Christensen.Memorial Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 30 at Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City.   A Memorial Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service on Thursday.  Inurnment will be in the Birchwood Cemetey of Pine City with Military Honors by the Pine City American Legion, the Pine City VFW, and Minnesota National Guard.