Rebecca Lynn Rust, 71, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2024, surrounded by family and friends after a brief illness. Born in 1953 to the late Franklin and Mary Jane (Fink) Rust, Becky grew up with her two brothers on a farm in Bloomington, Illinois, where the Rust family had deep roots.

As a young girl, she rode show horses and loved academia. Becky moved to Springfield, Illinois, after her father became manager of the Illinois State Fair. When her father became manager of Busch Gardens, she moved to Tampa and graduated from Chamberlain High School in 1971. She continued her education at Florida State University, where she earned bachelor's and master's degrees in economics and later became an adjunct professor of economics at her alma mater. She was also a proud member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and remained an active alumni throughout her life.

In the mid-1970s, Becky joined the Florida Department of Labor and served in a variety of capacities, including many years as Director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. After retiring in 2015, Becky moved to Washington DC to serve as Deputy Commissioner for the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In 2020, she returned to Tallahassee to be near her brother Lee, founder of Tallahassee Fan and Blind, who passed away in 2022. She is survived by her eldest brother Randall, a decorated naval aviator and retired United Airlines pilot. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. In her final days, she commented, “The extraordinary efforts of Randy, Jessica and Jennifer were a great expression of my family's love at the end of my life, as were the care of other close friends, including Maggie, Renee, Diane, Karen, Lucie, Mitra, Mason and Elaine.”

Although Becky did not request a memorial service, her family asks that donations be sent to Last Hope Rescue, an all-volunteer animal rescue organization in Tallahassee. Todd Wahlquist of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the Rust family with their arrangements.