BENTONVILLE -- Bruce Rutherford was remembered Saturday as a one-of-a-kind man and a true public servant.
Rutherford, 65, of Siloam Springs died Friday. He served as Benton County judge from 1989 to 1996.
He had worked since 2007 as a investigator for the Benton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. He also worked as a Siloam Springs police officer and Benton County sheriff's deputy.
"He was a dedicated and courageous law enforcement officer," Retired Circuit Judge David Clinger said of his longtime friend.
Clinger said he worked with Rutherford when he (Rutherford) was a sheriff's deputy, but Clinger's wife Circuit Judge Xollie Duncan knew Rutherford first and was friends with him when he was a police officer in Siloam Springs.
"We are both saddened by this untimely death," Clinger said.
Rutherford was always thinking of others, Clinger said. "Bruce was this big and tough guy, but he was truly a compassionate and understanding man."
Clinger said Rutherford was a dedicated law enforcement officer and he did "a super job" as county judge. Clinger said Rutherford was also an excellent investigator for the prosecutor's office.
"Bruce was really a one-of-a-kind of person," Clinger said. "He will be dearly missed by a lot of folks."
Nathan Smith, Benton County's prosecuting attorney, said Rutherford loved working in the prosecutor's office.
"Bruce was one of a kind," Nathan Smith, Benton County's prosecuting attorney, said Saturday morning. "He was invaluable to our office as an investigator, but his greatest asset was his kindness and friendship. I can't think of a single conversation I ever had with him including the last time I talked with him Friday morning that didn't include laughter."
Smith said Rutherford was the kind of man who made everyone feel important. "Even my own young children loved him because he would take the time to pin a little sheriff badge sticker on them when he saw them."
Smith said Rutherford was a true public servant and that one of Rutherford biggest qualities is that he made friends, not enemies.
"If there were more people like him the world would be a finer place," Smith said. "I admired him greatly and will miss him terribly."
"It sound cliche, but he (Rutherford) was a servant of the people in Benton County," said Gary Armstrong, a retired Rogers police detective.
Armstrong said he knew Rutherford for 35 years and remembers when he was a Siloam Springs police officer and sheriff's deputy. Rutherford also served the people as county judge and as an investigator for the prosecutor's office, Armstrong said.
"I will miss him terribly," Armstrong said. "He was a very close friend."
"Though he was big and strong he was a very caring man," Circuit Judge Robin Green said of Rutherford.
Rutherford was always doing things for other people, and he was very proud of his family.
"Bruce could be counted on for whatever was needed in the courthouse, and he was always willing to lend a healing hand," Green said. "Bruce will be sorely missed."
Van Stone, former Benton County prosecuting attorney, said a person was blessed if he or she was counted as one of Rutherford friends.
"No matter the circumstances, you could count on Bruce, and if he was having a bad day, you never knew about it from him," Stone said. "Being his friend was a privilege and a pleasure and always a damn good time."
Smith said funeral arrangement had not been completed.
NW News on 04/09/2017