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Kenneth L. Ken Rasmussen Oct 09 1926 - May 08 2011
A memorial service for Kenneth L. Rasmussen, age 84, of Watertown, SD, and Estelline, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 13, 2011, at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown. Rev. Tom Christenson will officiate. Music will be provided by Mary Wika as pianist with Robbyn Givens as soloist. Ken passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2011, at the Daugherty Hospice Unit in Sioux Falls, SD. Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Cemetery in Brookings, SD. Military graveside honors will be presented by the U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Team. Honorary pallbearers will be Ken’s nine grandchildren: Bryce (Amy) Boyd, Bryan Boyd, Kristi (Mitch) Fehr, Shawn Rasmussen, Larissa Rasmussen, Sarah Withee, Samantha Withee, Margaret Withee, and Madeline Withee; and six great-grandchildren: Owen Boyd, Eli Boyd, Frances Fehr, Delaney Fehr, Charlie Fehr, and Micah Fehr. Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday. The family is requested to meet at the church on Friday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. Ken was born on October 9, 1926, in Marshall, MN, to Einar and Helga (Madsen) Rasmussen. Ken attended Brookings High School and subsequently served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, assigned to the USS Tanager which patrolled the east coast of our country. Ken served in the Navy from January 1943 through July 1944, when he was honorably discharged. He was ‘Fireman 2^nd Class’ in the Navy. On November 5, 1949, Ken married Margaret Petersen in Brookings, SD. He opened an appliance store in Aurora, SD, and then worked in a hardware store in Montevideo, MN. Ken and Marge moved to Sioux Falls where he was employed by a financial firm. They subsequently moved in August 1967 to Watertown, SD, and opened a sewing machine and vacuum cleaner business in their home. In August 2007, Ken retired and was admitted to the Estelline Care Center. He was a member of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer. Ken always enjoyed dancing and golfing with his life-long love, Marge. He and his family are truly grateful for the outstanding assistance and care that he received at the Estelline Care Center during the past 45 months. Ken is survived by his lovely wife, Marge; his four children: Karen (Todd) Boyd of Clear Lake, SD, David (Laura) Rasmussen of Corpus Christi, TX, Peggy (Doug) Scott of Appleton, WI, and Kathy (Ron) Withee of Arlington, TX; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one brother, Henry Rasmussen, of Wichita, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and four sisters.

Kenneth L. Ken Rasmussen
Oct 09 1926 - May 08 2011

A memorial service for Kenneth L. Rasmussen, age 84, of Watertown, SD, and Estelline, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 13, 2011, at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown. Rev. Tom Christenson will officiate. Music will be provided by Mary Wika as pianist with Robbyn Givens as soloist. Ken passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2011, at the Daugherty Hospice Unit in Sioux Falls, SD.

Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Cemetery in Brookings, SD. Military graveside honors will be presented by the U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Team. Honorary pallbearers will be Ken’s nine grandchildren: Bryce (Amy) Boyd, Bryan Boyd, Kristi (Mitch) Fehr, Shawn Rasmussen, Larissa Rasmussen, Sarah Withee, Samantha Withee, Margaret Withee, and Madeline Withee; and six great-grandchildren: Owen Boyd, Eli Boyd, Frances Fehr, Delaney Fehr, Charlie Fehr, and Micah Fehr.

Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday. The family is requested to meet at the church on Friday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.

Ken was born on October 9, 1926, in Marshall, MN, to Einar and Helga (Madsen) Rasmussen. Ken attended Brookings High School and subsequently served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, assigned to the USS Tanager which patrolled the east coast of our country. Ken served in the Navy from January 1943 through July 1944, when he was honorably discharged. He was ‘Fireman 2^nd Class’ in the Navy.

On November 5, 1949, Ken married Margaret Petersen in Brookings, SD. He opened an appliance store in Aurora, SD, and then worked in a hardware store in Montevideo, MN. Ken and Marge moved to Sioux Falls where he was employed by a financial firm. They subsequently moved in August 1967 to Watertown, SD, and opened a sewing machine and vacuum cleaner business in their home. In August 2007, Ken retired and was admitted to the Estelline Care Center.

He was a member of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer. Ken always enjoyed dancing and golfing with his life-long love, Marge. He and his family are truly grateful for the outstanding assistance and care that he received at the Estelline Care Center during the past 45 months.

Ken is survived by his lovely wife, Marge; his four children: Karen (Todd) Boyd of Clear Lake, SD, David (Laura) Rasmussen of Corpus Christi, TX, Peggy (Doug) Scott of Appleton, WI, and Kathy (Ron) Withee of Arlington, TX; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one brother, Henry Rasmussen, of Wichita, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and four sisters.

Guest book

Comment posted by: Mike Thompson
Fri 13th May 2011 08:47 am

My sympathy goes to you Margaret and all your family. Kenny was one of the few people you would meet who would immediately put a smile on your face. I loved hearing the stories of the good old days growing up in Marshall. He laughed when he told me how he would sneak on the the bus to the away football games with his big brothers, George and Hank. We laugh when we see the pictures of how he dressed up our Mom as a gypsy as a young girl when he babysat her. Blessed be all the memories! He'

Comment posted by: Michael Calvert
Thu 12th May 2011 02:16 pm

Karen, To you and your entire family, my most sincere sympathy for the loss of your father and loved one. I have kind and gentle memories of him and his tolerance of "the kid next door," when we were in high school. Michael Calvert

Comment posted by: Deb Schwinger Burdine
Thu 12th May 2011 08:20 am

Dear Rasmussen family,
You have my sympathy in the loss of your husband, dad, grandpa & great grandpa!
When growing up, I had the privilege of being at your home on several occasions with Peggy & friends. We were always welcome at the Rasmussen home! When I think of Ken, I think of high energy, enthusiasm, & a great smile! Even though he is now at peace in the arms of his & our Father in heaven, I know you will miss him so much. May you continue to find strength through the love and suppor

Comment posted by: Camilla and Jerry Preller
Mon 09th May 2011 08:05 pm

Dear Aunt Margaret Ann and family,
We're sorry we will not be able to be with you
in person. I have such special memories of all
the fun times we had together as kids growing up
and when you came to visit us in Lake Geneva.
Uncle Ken sold me the Kirby I still use to this
day along with my sewing machine. I so enjoyed
the times at your house when we all sang together
with mom and dad. We will miss seeing all of you.
Love to you all.
Jerry and Kay

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