Benedict Rutkauskas was born on March 21, 1911, in the village of Jonusiai, Lithuania, eldest of the eight children of Vincentas and Petronele (Grigalyte) Rutkauskas. His primary education took place in Lioliai, Lithuania, from 1921 to 1924, after which he attended the "Gymnasium" (junior college) in Raseiniai from 1924 to 19 31. On September 22, 1933, Benedict received the Dominican habit and religious name of Albert and began his novitiate in the Order at Amiens, France. He made his first profession there on September 23, 1934; his solemn profession at Le Saulchoir, Belgium, in 1937.

Following first profession, Brother Albert moved to the Albertus Magnus Academy in Walberberg, Germany, for philosophical studies, 1934 to 1937. He was then sent to Le Saulchoir, Belgium to study theology, 1937 to 1939, and was ordained on July 16, 1939, by the Most Reverend Jean B. Amoudru, O.P.

Father Rutkauskas then returned to Lithuania where his first assignment was as assistant pastor and procurator in Raseiniai. From 1941 to 1943, he continued his studies, first at the Theological Faculty in Kaunas and then at the Archdiocesan Seminary in Vilnius. For a year he served as an assistant pastor and religion teacher in Vilnius, Lithuania. In 1944 his own Province was completely disbanded after the Soviet takeover of Lithuania and he was forced to flee his country. From 1944 to 1947 he served as chaplain to the Lithuanian refugees in Germany, and from 1947 to 1950 as high school teacher and chaplain of students, also in Germany. During this time he was assigned to the jurisdiction of the Master General of the Dominican Order.

In 1950 Father Rutkauskas was sent to the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., to study English. Two years later he moved to Boyce, Louisiana, where he served as assistant pastor at St. Margaret Parish and its surrounding missions until 1967. He then served an additional nine years as associate pastor at Holy Family Mission in Cloutierville, Louisiana.

During this time as preparations were being made for the 1973 Provincial Chapter, a question arose about the formal status of Father Rutkauskas in the Province. It had been assumed that he was a son of the Province of St. Joseph, but no documentation could be found. Hence, when the Master of the Order sent documentation declaring him a son of the Province of St. Albert the Great, Father Rutkauskas wrote to Father Clement Collins, then Provincial of St. Albert's Province:

"There was a great joy for me to receive the document of Master General and your letter clarifying my status in the Province of St. Albert. Thanks very much for your very kind attention to my petition and for all your efforts you have done in this my case. I'm also very thankful for all major and local superiors who treated me always like their own member."

In 1976 because of an increasingly limited number of personnel, negotiations began with the Diocese of Alexandria to reorganize the rural parishes in northern Louisiana and return them to the jurisdiction of the Diocese. At the age of sixty-five Father Rutkauskas indicated his wish to work once again with Lithuanian people, and so in the fall of 1976 he accepted the invitation of Father John Stankevicius, pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Cicero, Illinois, to become an associate pastor there, a ministry in which he served for thirteen years.

In 1989 he celebrated his fiftieth anniversary of ordination to the priesthood; a special Mass and reception being held on September 10. Although on limited service, he continued to serve as much as his health allowed but was finally forced to retire from active ministry in 1991. He then moved to St. Thomas Aquinas Priory where he spent his last years in the company of his brothers. His health continued to decline and on March 29, 1995, he died while at Holy Cross Hospital. On April 1, 1995, the Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, Illinois, and he was buried in the Dominican plot in All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois.