Kenneth RASMUSSEN

RASMUSSEN, HELMKE, LOEBIG, FORSLUND, LINSCOTT, CARTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/1/2007 at 19:08:30

Mason City Globe Gazette
03/19/1996

Kenneth Rasmussen, 73, of Forest City, died Monday (March 18, 1996) at his son's home in Woodbury, Minn. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. James Catholic Church, with the Rev. Jerry Kopacek officiating. Burial will be in St. James Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Petersen Lund Funeral Home. A Scripture service will be held at 7 p.m.

Kenneth Rasmussen was born in Goldfield on Aug. 16, 1922, the son of Fred and Dora (Helmke) Rasmussen. He attended rural schools in Humboldt County and graduated from Goldfield High School in 1939. He farmed his entire life, first in Goldfield and then he moved with his parents to a farm in rural Wesley in 1942. He was married to Rita Loebig on Nov. 9, 1944. in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wesley. The couple moved to a farm in Leland in January 1950. Kenneth served on the ASCS Township Committee and then was on the Winnebago County ASCS County Committee for 17 years. He also served on the FHA board. He was secretary of the Forest City Golf Club board of directors; a member of St. James Catholic Church and served on the First Parish Council. He was active in the planning and building of the new St. James Church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 52 years. In 1975 the Rasmussens retired and moved to Leland. Kenneth served as councilman and mayor and was instrumental in the building of the present Leland Community Center. He was mayor during Leland's centennial in 1982. He also delivered Winnebago motor homes for many years. He loved farming, hunting, fishing, golf and billiards and especially his children and grandchildren. The Rasmussens spent the winters in their Arizona home for the past 13 years. Kenneth faced his diagnosis of cancer with calm acceptance. He died at his son's home in Woodbury, Minn., on March 18, 1996 at the age of 73 years.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Rita, of Forest City; daughter, Mary, and her husband, John Forslund of Tulsa, Okla.; son, Tom, and his wife, Bonnie, of Woodbury, Minn.; and five granddaughters, Martha Linscott, Michelle Carter, Mary, Lori and Karin Rasmussen; two brothers, Forrest "Pat" Rasmussen of Wesley and Merle Rasmussen of Evergreen, Colo.; and many nieces and nephews.