Donald Van Rasmussen

Donald Van Rasmussen was born on January 11, 1926 at the family farm to Arthur J. Rasmussen and Martha (Lux) Rasmussen, where he joined brother Robert. He attended Snake Butte school before moving to Harlem, where he graduated in 1943.

Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific theater as a Signalman on board various ships. He reported that the most important signals he sent were usually, "Where's the mail!" He also reported that a lot of his service was boring, just waiting for something to happen!

Don married the love of his life, Phyllis Bergh, on June 16, 1947, and they would have celebrated 70 years of marriage on this day. He used the GI Bill to attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where he earned a degree in Commercial art. They moved to Denver where he did freelance work and worked for Riddle Advertising Agency. Their children Mark and Kristin were born in Denver.

In 1961 Don's father asked him to return to Montana to help on the family farm, and they relocated to the Hogeland area. Don was a grain farmer and also had great skills in building and woodworking. He served the community on the Harlem School Board and often donated his drawing and building skills for many projects.

Don learned to fly and did his own crop spraying, surviving a serious accident. In later years, Don and Phyllis took up square dancing and golf, and were Good Sam RV members and enjoyed those pastimes and traveling in many places. They spent many winters in Yuma, Arizona.

Declining health and abilities led them to move to the Sweet Home in Chinook, where they received outstanding care. Don's mission in life became looking after Phyllis and pushing her wheelchair and serving as her "ears" until his death following a stroke.

He is survived by his wife Phyllis and their children Mark (Yvonne) Rasmussen and Kristin (Russell) McKinley, their grand-children Paul (Kellie) Rasmussen, and Kara (Jeff) Doyle, and great grandchildren Daniel and Andrew Rasmussen and Patrick Doyle.

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