My dad's obituary

Donald H. Rasmussen


1928 ~ 2009

St. George, UT - Donald H. Rasmussen was born October 4, 1928 in Springville, Utah. He was the son of Arnold H. and Deane Martain Rasmussen. He lived in the Provo/Orem area most of his life, graduating from Provo High School.

He was an Ironworker by trade working for Bechtel Corp., Consolidated Western Steel and most of the time for American Bridge at Geneva Steel. He attended night school at Utah Valley University, then Utah Technical College, where he learned blue print reading and other crafts. Later he taught the Ironworker Apprentice classes in Safety, Blue-Print Reading and Welding at Utah Technical College. At one time he was the youngest superintendent for American Bridge Co. in California where he worked on the L.A. Convention Center in the early 1970's.

He was previously married and had two children. He married Martha Brown Lamoreaux on June 20, 1958. He is survived by his wife, Martha and his children Sharon (Joel) Murphy of Pleasant Grove; Charlotte Lamoreaux (Richard) Evans of St. George; Alan (Margarett) Rasmussen of Provo; Dean (Alisa) Rasmussen of Kaysville; Don J. (Kara) Rasmussen of Spanish Fork; 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was active in the LDS Church and held many positions, High Priests Group presidency in two wards, Ward Activities Committee, Young Men Presidency, Scout Master, Asst. Scout Master, Webelos, Merit Badge Counselor, Scout Committeeman and Home Teacher. He had a compassionate spot in his heart for the elderly neighbors and always for the underdog.

He and his wife, Martha, have lived in St. George for nearly 20 years. His home was always open and his greatest joy was when he was surrounded by his family, which was often.

In St. George a visitation will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2009 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Bloomington Hills LDS 4th Ward Chapel, 750 Ft Pierce, St. George, Utah. In Orem a visitation will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Sundberg/Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State St., Orem, Utah followed by Graveside services at the Provo City Cemetery, 610 South State St., Provo, Utah. Arrangements under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary 435-673-4221.

DEATH AGAIN---CANCER I HATE YOU!

My dad, Donald Rasmussen passed away yesterday in St. George, Utah from complications of radiation treatment for jaw cancer. He had lost a lot of weight and had a hard time eating since the treatments had burned his throat, etc. Joel and I brought the three granddaughters here to St. George for spring break. All they want to do was swim. It was kind of cold here, but they swam anyway. We went to visit dad on Friday and he was sleeping, and looked horrible. He looked like he was a death camp survivor. The next morning we went to check on him again, and when we turned the corner his home had tons of cars there. I knew that something horrible was going on. My brother Don had come down that morning so see dad and went he arrived he had already died. It was a shock, as he did not appear to be close to death. He was suffering, so it was a blessing that his life had come to an end. Maybe dad somehow choose to leave when most of the family had gathered there for spring break.......

There will be a visitation in St.George Thursday night, with a funeral on Saturday in Orem, Utah. Dad was born in Provo, Utah and spent most of his life there,until he retired to St. George 20 years ago. He worked many years at Geneva Steel.