Representative Marilyn Ruestman

94th General Assembly

Marilyn Ruestman, a Republican, was elected in 2002, 2004 and 2006 to represent the 131st District in the Missouri House of Representatives.  The district includes parts of McDonald and Newton counties in extreme Southwest Missouri.

Representative Ruestman was elected Republican Caucus Secretary from 2005-2008.  She was elected treasurer of the freshman class of the 92nd General Assembly.  In 2003 the Women Legislators of Missouri elected Representative Ruestman president and she was appointed to the Missouri Women’s Council by the Speaker of the House.

The Ruestman family has been in real estate development in the Joplin/Newton County area since 1947.  She and her husband, Richard, co-own Ruestman Construction, Inc. and Ruestman Rentals.  Prior to being elected she served as district coordinator for United States Congressman Mel Hancock from 1989-1996 and as district director for Missouri State Senator Marvin Singleton.

A recipient of the Woman of the Year from the Missouri Federated Republican Women, Representative Ruestman has also received the following awards:  Missouri Bar Association’s Legislator of the Year, NAACP Presidential Award, Woman of Distinction from Soroptimist International; Missouri State Volunteer Project of the Year; and was a national winner for Students in Free Enterprise competition.  She is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Representative Ruestman attends Christ Community United Methodist Church.  She served as the elected Republican state committeewoman for many years.  She has also served as president or chairman of the following civic organizations:  Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce; Soroptimist International of Joplin; Metro Exchange Club; The Boys and Girls Club of Joplin; and Joplin Federated Republican Women.

A lifelong resident of Newton and McDonald Counties, she graduated from Noel High School, received her Bachelor Degree from Missouri Southern State University and her Masters from Pittsburg State University.  Representative Ruestman lives in rural Newton County with her husband.  They have three children, Morgan, Peter and Pam, and three granddaughters.