Mr Rutherford fits the "Jack of all trades" description but certainly not the "master of none" addition.
His contribution to Maniototo life has been wide-ranging, his involvement covering everything from education and health through to sports groups, local body politics, church affairs and the media.
His efforts have been recognised with life membership in several groups and organisations, and the Central Otago District Council gave him a community service award in 1996.
Talking to the Otago Daily Times before shifting to his new home in Green Island this week, Mr Rutherford said it would be "a wrench" to leave the Maniototo.
"It's been a great community to live in and it's the people, of course, that make it."
The 80-year-old is looking forward to being closer to family in Dunedin, and relishing the thought of living closer to facilities such as the University of Otago and arts venues such as the Fortune Theatre.
A teaching job was the catalyst for his shift to Ranfurly in 1974, but he and his late wife Josie had no intention of remaining long-term.
"The idea was we'd stay three years and then do something else."
Working as a senior lecturer at Teachers' College in Dunedin in 1974, he had noted the principal's job at the Maniototo Area School was available.
"I'd long been committed to rural schooling and had worked as a principal at schools in Winton and Lumsden. Maniototo was in the pilot scheme for area schools in this country and was established in 1969; mixing primary-school and high-school children in one school was a new concept.
"I saw the Maniototo vacancy and thought `God, I'd love this type of school,' so I'd better have a go at this one."
He took over from the area school's first principal, the late Tom Morgan, and spent 25 years at the helm.
The school roll peaked at 350 during that time and he was able to use his writing skills to plead with the Education Department for improved facilities and equipment.
A second science lab, gymnasium, library and general-purpose room were eventually added to the school complex, which was a satisfying outcome to his campaigning.
His main focus as a principal was making sure rural children had the same opportunities as their city counterparts.
During his time at the school, he was elected to the New Zealand Educational Institute executive, where he served for a decade, and he is proud of having received life membership in that organisation, for his service to rural children.
Outside the school, he was instrumental in setting up a community radio station in Ranfurly, now called Burn Radio, which has recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
When the station struggled financially, Mr Rutherford suggested a radiothon to raise funds.
"I reckoned we might get $5000 but we ended up with $32,000. We had country and western fans ringing from Timaru, a group of people from the Otago Peninsula, people from throughout the area and all over supporting it, and so the radio was saved."
He also dabbled in local body politics, serving one and a-half terms on the Central Otago District Council and the Maniototo Community Board, resigning for health reasons after a brush with cancer; one of three he has survived.
A stint on the Maniototo Health Board and Maniototo District Committee proved challenging as the community fought to retain its medical services, he said.
"So I have to say thanks to the [then] Otago District Health Board; they have been very kind to us and we've got good services here, including maternity, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The only regret, the only mistake I think we made, was in retaining the [hospital] building, which requires a lot of maintenance."
Music is another interest dear to his heart. Mr Rutherford's keyboard and organ skills were used at the Anzac Day dawn services, some Rural Art Deco Weekend events, and at many funerals in the town.
A member of the Ranfurly Presbyterian Church, Mr Rutherford has devoted many hours to parish affairs and served as the moderator of the Central Otago Presbytery for many years.
After he retired from teaching, he became a correspondent for the Otago Daily Times, covering Maniototo news for eight years, starting in the 1980s.
The caring nature of the Maniototo community was highlighted when he experienced several tragedies. The sudden deaths, at different times, of his grandson, his son and his wife Josie, showed him "what a wonderful caring community this is; you couldn't ask for better".
Mr Rutherford has been accepted to undertake a postgraduate diploma in theology at Otago University.
"I think it's important, when you're older, to keep your brain active."
To that end, he is also making good use of a recent acquisition: a laptop computer, an 80th-birthday present from his family.
