Therresa C. Rasmussen

Salina, Utah - Surrounded by her loving family, Therresa Colby Rasmussen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend passed away October 19, 2006, following an extended illness, in Levan, Utah. Therresa was born in the family home in Salina, Utah, June 10, 1913, a daughter of LeRoy and Sarah Elizabeth Crane Colby. She married Maurice Farrell Rasmussen, November 23, 1933 in Richfield, Utah and they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti LDS Temple March 1, 1940. Of all Therresa’s loves, her family was most dear. Family members have fond memories of holiday decorating and parties, especially Christmas and Halloween. Therresa was a very loving mother and a true grandmother to all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Contents of her toy drawers were shared and often generously given away to admiring little children. Her homemaking and gardening talents adorned the family home and neighborhood. Therresa’s deliciously unique dinner roll recipe could not be unsurpassed nor duplicated, even though she willingly taught her techniques to promising cooks. Fun times abounded in the Accord Lake cabin that Maurice and Therresa designed, built and maintained for as long as possible. Service was the hallmark of Therresa’s life. As a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many capacities including Sunday School, Relief Society and Young Women’s organizations and supported her husband in his many callings. Therresa was a kind and generous neighbor and friend. Anyone who came to her door was promptly fed or given something, and always invited to come back soon. She never hesitated to care for the hungry and the homeless. A friend described her as “a positive, talented and public-spirited person.” After her family, her next love was music. She took pleasure in every type of music, and she was an accomplished alto saxophonist. As a member of the Bryce’s Arcadians dance band, she played for dances all over Utah during the Big Band Era. Therresa directed numerous choirs and singing groups over the years, as they performed for various civic and church groups. She was a self-taught pianist and organist. Therresa is survived by her dear husband, Maurice, of Salina; her five children and their spouses: Rodney and Eunice Rasmussen, Janet and Neil Beach, all of Salina; Evelyn and Jerold Shields, Kathern and Lyle Taylor, all of Salt Lake City; Brad and Kathy Rasmussen of Hurricane. Her posterity also includes 26 grandchildren; 102 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Surviving siblings include a brother, Darwin and Wona Colby of California; sisters-in-law: Vonda Colby and Virginia R. Dickert, both of Salina; Shirley Rasmussen of Boise, Idaho; Shirley Probert of Scipio; Donna and Paul Martin of Las Vegas, Nevada; and many nieces and nephews complete the family circle. Funeral services for Therresa Rasmussen are scheduled for Monday, October 23, 2006 at 12 Noon in the Salina 2nd LDS Ward Chapel, 87 South 100 East in Salina, where friends may call for viewing Sunday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or Monday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Salina Pioneer Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield, Salina and Gunnison, Utah. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Tina with home health care, hospice, and the nurses, nurses aids and doctors in all the hospitals in the community that have helped during the past several years in the care of Therresa, and a special thanks to Kaye, Amberlee and their staff at The Victorian House in Levan.