Joan Nathalee Morrill Aarsby, “Nat” was born on June 6, 1936, (She always liked to say 6/6/36) in Santa Paula, California. The oldest of 2 redheaded daughters of J. Nathan and Katharine C. (Casey) Morrill. She and her sister Marilyn spend all their growing up years in the family homes in Santa Paula, during the WWII years. She told many stories of life during those war years.
She attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA and Ventura Community College in Ventura, CA. She met David G. Rhudy of Germantown, NY during those years and they married in 1957, lived in Ventura where they raised their 3 children, Keith, Cyndie and Cheryl. They lived in a wonderful, close-knit neighborhood in a home that Dave built and Nat was welcoming to many. She loved creating elaborate themed birthday parties for her kids, long before it was cool. She also loved gardening, photography, cooking and shopping, which she claimed was her exercise.
Nat began piano lessons at 5 years old and it was her life-long passion, as she played for church choirs and nursing homes as well as in her home. She loved having a grandchild or two sit on the piano bench beside her while they “played” music together. Her other great passion was photography, and undeniably her favorite hobby. Rarely did she leave her home without her camera bag. Millions of her photos were admired, shared, appreciated and loved by so many. She loved shooting nature, especially the Black Hills in the Fall, and people, especially her family. Nat chronicled her family’s history through photographs. She could always be counted on to take pictures and enjoyed family gatherings, parties, showers, weddings and created many photo albums, wedding albums as well as albums for their Rapid City church, Rimrock E- Free.
The marriage ended in 1968 when she became a single parent with the generous help of her loving parents. The family moved to Rapid City, SD in 1973. Nat liked to say that the Black Hills was the place she always dreamed of living.
In 1977 she married Gerald (Jerry) Aarsby and a new, “Brady Bunch” family was created adding Larry, Kathy and Tammy to her kids and became “Grandma Nat” to their kids first. She loved planning, hosting and cooking for years of family Thanksgivings with all the kids and many grandkids, undoubtedly, all having the greatest of memories of those holidays.
Nat was a voracious reader and studier of the Bible, especially learning of prophecy and the end times. Nat prayed. She prayed a lot! She prayed for all she loved and would even tell us now that the most important calling upon her life was to tell her children and grandchildren about the love of Jesus, longing for all of them to spend eternity with her in heaven. A great mother and an outstanding grandma, she taught her daughters, by example, how to be wonderful, loving, giving grandmas as well.
She said her favorite Bible verses were words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28, 29 – “COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN FROM ME, FOR I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE IN HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”
Jerry had many health issues and Nat lovingly cared for him their entire 30-year marriage. Jerry and Nat loved to travel and did so often and for many years until heaven gained Jerry in 2006. His celebration of life was the last gathering of the combined Aarsby family.
Nat lived in some 14 homes in Rapid City until the end and loved her Westhills Village community.
She leaves behind a family who loves her greatly. Her son: Keith Rhudy and his kids Josh, Caleb, Elijah, Jada and Ariel and their kids Emilia, Jamal and Zayn; daughter: Cyndie Hamilton and her kids Emilie Jankowski (Chris) their kids, Liam and Adeleine, Jordan Hamilton (Katelynn) their kids Kahari, Piper and Jameson, step daughter Leilani Shattuck (Erik), their kids Walker, Jazmyn, Izobella and Andrew (and her brothers Ben and Jake Hamilton and families.); daughter: Cheryl Smart (Steven) their son Gavin (Haley) Auker, and their kids Aramis and Vienna; step- son: Larry (Laurie) Aarsby, their kids Kristi Kail and Heidi Aarsby Logsdon and their kids; step-daughter: Kathy (Mark) Barker, their kids, Trena, Sonya, Greg, Seth, Nicholas, Kathryn, Kelly and many great grandchildren; step-daughter: Tamara-deceased (Anthony) Smith, their sons Justin and Garrett and kids; her sister: Marilyn (Bob) Ryczek; her nieces: Robin Ryczek Segura and Joani Carlson and their kids.
Nat was preceded in death by her parents; her love: Jerry; sister-in-law: Jo Aarsby and step-daughter: Tamara.
Nat loved tacos! Several years ago, she told her daughter that she wanted to have tacos at her funeral. She also said that she hoped when she went to heaven, she’d be in the Mexican part so she could have tacos there! Please, the next time you eat a taco, make a taco toast to Nat!
Nat is now and forever will be in the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ.
