Rudy was born in Seattle, Washington, on August 6, 1924, to Eino and Kerttu (Gertrude) Heino. He spent time between West Seattle, Hood Canal and Aberdeen, graduating from J.M. Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen. His life-long love for fishing was nurtured in the Aberdeen area. Shortly after graduating he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with the 398th Army Engineers as corporal during World War II. Rudy participated in the Battle of the Bulge under General George Patton, and served in Belgium, Luxemburg, France and England.
After the war, he received his private’s pilot’s license. He gave up his license after he and his date, Patricia Jacer of Aberdeen, nearly flew into the Tacoma smokestack during a very foggy flight. He married Patricia in 1950. They purchased a new house and settled in Kirkland, Washington. Rudy joined the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 32 and was a 65-year member. He worked for University Mechanical Contractors, retiring after a 41 year career with the company. As a plumber, mechanical detailer and plumbing designer, Rudy worked on the Space Needle, Hanford, Columbia Tower, Washington Plaza Hotel, Renton Treatment Plant, the Atomic Energy Commission Nuclear Facility in Arco, Idaho, the Princeville Resort in Kauai and numerous other projects in the Seattle-metro area.