It is with sorrow and gratitude that we mark the passing of Lorraine H. Rasmussen, 98, — sorrow at the loss, gratitude for the life.
Here is what mattered, in the years between the dates.
The story begins in 1914, with the arrival of a life that would be cherished by many.
Lorraine held deeply to the Lutheran faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Faith is the language some lives are written in. Lorraine's was one.
Lorraine Harriett Rasmussen Lorraine Harriett Rasmussen passed away November 24, 2012, in Viborg, SD. Lorraine was born to Thomas and Marie (Hanson) Johnson on October 23, 1914, on the family farm in Norway Township, Turner County, South Dakota. She was the oldest and the "big sister" to three younger brothers and a sister. Lorraine lived through the bad times of the black dirt clouds of the Dustbowl, the hard times of the Great Depression and the stripped stalks and stubble left after the swarms of grasshoppers came to call. But she also remembered the good times back then when family, friends and neighbors got together having fun, enjoying life and making do with the things they had, knowing there was always someone who was worse off than they. Lorraine went to country school and often rode her horse "Daisy" across the pastures to the schoolhouse. Lorraine grew up, graduated from Hurley High School, went to Freeman Christian Junior College, got her teaching certificate and taught in country schools in Turner County for eleven years. While she was teaching, Lorraine met Earl Rasmussen who lived near Viborg, South Dakota. Their courtship was unfortunately interrupted for four years while Earl was serving in the South Pacific with the Army Signal Corps during World War II. They were finally married on Christmas Day, 1945. Earl and Lorraine farmed in Southeastern South Dakota. For a number of years in the late 40's and early 50's they rented their farmland, moving every few years when the landowner's son would come back from the Occupation of Germany or Japan or the Korean War and decide to try his hand at farming. They farmed for eight years northwest of Vermillion, SD, on the Bluff Road. In 1959 Lorraine and Earl bought a farm southeast of Hurley, SD, and lived there until they retired and moved to town in early 1981. Earl died as a result of a farm accident early in 1983. For the next twenty-two years Lorraine lived in the little house in Hurley across from the park and just down the street from the school. After an accident in her home, Lorraine moved to Pioneer Memorial Home in Viborg, SD. Lorraine was a woman from a generation that we shall not see the likes of again. Expecting little and accomplishing much, she loved children, her church, flowers, relatives and parties. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew her. Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, parents Thomas and Marie, brothers Jerome, Juel and Kenneth. She is survived by her sister Arlys Precht, Edina, MN, three sons, David (Mary) of Fargo, ND, John (Jane) of Sisseton, SD, Mark (Nancy) of Hurley, SD, 9 grandchildren, John (Kelly) Rasmussen, Crested Butte, CO, Sarah Rasmussen and Josh Tobiessen, Austin, TX, Mark (Kristin) Rasmussen, Chania, Crete, Greece, Paul (Ingrid) Rasmussen, St. Paul, MN, Tom Rasmussen, Crested Butte, CO, Carl Rasmussen, Portland, OR, Bethany (Drew) Anderson, Madison, WI, Kari (Logan) Lee, Eugene, OR, Reid Rasmussen, Sioux Falls, SD and 2 great grand daughters, Kaitlyn Lorraine Rasmussen, Crested Butte, CO and Anna Lucia Rasmussen, Chania, Crete, Greece and many nieces and nephews who were all so special to "Aunt Lorraine". Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2012, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Hurley, SD, where Lorraine was baptized, confirmed and married. A prayer service will be held at Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home, Hurley, SD, on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 7:00 pm.
