RASMUSON, Rasmus S. (1851-1935)

RASMUSON, OLSEN, OLSON, HAMPE, KRAMBEER

Posted By: DiAnn Reindl (email)
Date: 12/9/2007 at 21:56:00

OBIT - in News Tribune, Britt, Iowa

Was Born in Lolland, Denmark and Came to Wisconsin Early in 1866

R. S. Rasmuson, one of the earliest of the Britt township pioneers, passed peacefully away at his home on North Main street on Saturday afternoon, December 14, 1935 at 2o'clock. He had been ill since Thursday, suffering a heart attach.

Mr, & Mrs. Rasmuson came to this county from Wisconsin in covered wagons in October 1875. Three families came together, the Jorgen Jensen (Mrs. Rasmuson's foster parents) the Peter Jensen's & the R. S. Rasmusons. They purchased farms in a row, the Jorgen Jensens what is now the Dr. C. O. Brewster farm & tenanted by the William Chizek family; the Peter Jensens took possession of the farm now occupied by Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Smith.

While Mr. & Mrs Rasmuson were improving their farm they lived for a few months on the farm where the Bernhardt Jensens now live. Mr. Rasmuson became a township trustee soon after locating here & was one of the men responsible for purchasing & laying out Evergreen Cemetery, Britt. The only other residents of Britt Township when the Rasmuson's arrived were the Jesse Wooliscrofts & it so happened that Mr. Wooliscroft after death was the first man buried in Evergreen cemetery.

This sturdy pioneer family had great faith in the farm land & though they passed through the grasshopper plagues, the wet season & several financial panics, their faith in Hancock County never failed them. At the time of passing Mr. Rasmuson was possessed of some well improved farms, which now are handed down to the children.

R. S. Rasmuson was born May 8, 1851 in Lolland, Denmark. At his death on December 14, 1935, he had attained the advanced age of 84 years, 7 months & 6 days.

He came to the United States in 1866. The family first located in Dane County, Wisconsin, then moved to St. Croix County, Wisconsin and lived near Hammond, Wisconsin, where he was married to Augusta Clausen Romme on March 15, 1874.

In October 1875 Mr. & Mrs. Rasmuson together with two other families, came by covered wagon & located in Britt Township. In 1893 they moved into the town of Britt where they have since resided.

Mr. Rasmuson endured the hardships of real pioneer life & throughout his sixty years of living in the community, has been an active reliable & dependable man.

Mr. Rasmuson was a member of the First Congregational Church of Britt, also a member of Darius Lodge No. 431 A. F. & A. M. His fifty years of membership in the Masonic fraternity terminated last July and a certificate from the Grand Lodge was delivered to him only last Tuesday - four days before his death. Several members of the lodge went to his home with it, knowing that he was not able to climb the stairway to the lodge room to receive it in due form. He was also a Charter member of Britt Chapter No. 318 Order of the Eastern Star.

Mr. & Mrs. Rasmuson were ideally mated & their life has been a close co-partnership in every sense. Their home was always a welcome haven for their friends. They never lost their interest in people & events & to most of us who have known them a quarter century or more, they never grew old. What a comfort that must be to the children who are left with the mother. They are Mrs. E. P. Healy & William Rasmuson of Britt; Louis H. Rasmuson of Spencer, Iowa & Mrs. Fred S. Hill of Oak Park, Illinois. There are ten grandsons & six great grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted at the home at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. B. A. Rust & at the Congregational church at 2:00 p.m. when the Rev. Dr. W. L. Dibble of Mason City, gave the sermon. Darius Lodge A. F. & A. M. had a part n the service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery.

All of the children & grandchildren were in attendance at the funeral.