'Butch' P. Rasmussen

Ivan L. “Butch” Rasmussen, 86, of St. Paul, died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Delano Cunningham will officiate. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul with graveside military honors by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Rasmussen was born on Feb. 25, 1930, in St. Paul, the son of Einar and Marie (Rasmussen) Rasmussen. He grew up on a farm in the Fairdale area north of St. Paul and attended Howard County School District No. 21. He then picked corn by hand for local farmers in McCook for 10 cents a bushel. In Dec. 1950 he joined the Unites States Air Force, serving at various air bases, including Africa: Tripoli, Libya. After his discharge in Sept. 1954, he returned to farm. He was united in marriage to Erma L. Matousek on Jan. 27, 1956, at St. Paul. Their son, Terry was born on Nov. 6, 1957. The couple farmed their entire married life. Butch was a member of the former Fairdale Methodist Church and the Elba United Methodist Church where he served in various capacities. He was also a board member for District 43 and District 21 school boards, Farmers Co-Op elevator, Farmers Union Filling Station, Soil Conservation, A.S.C. (now F.S.A.) where he measured bins, etc for several decades, served as a Howard County Commissioner from 1989 to 1993, and was a very active member of Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119, having served as commander. He is survived by his wife, Erma of St. Paul; son, Terry Rasmussen of St. Paul; four grandchildren, Zachary Rasmussen of Lincoln, Amanda Rasmussen of Garland, Sarah and Ryan Robinson of Cedar Rapids and Nathan and Michaela Rasmussen of Lincoln; three great-grandchildren, Reagan Robinson, Sophie Walker and Finley Rasmussen; two brothers and four sisters-in-law, Don and Marie Rasmussen of Hastings, John and Linda Rasmussen of Grand Island, Joyce Rasmussen of Lincoln and Maxine Meyer of St. Paul; and one brother-in-law, Marvin Schwenk of St. Libory. He was preceded in death by his parents; step father, John McClelland; brother, Stanley Rasmussen; sister, Kathy Schwenk; in laws, Tom and Josie Matousek; and three sisters-in-law, Otilie Layher, Betty Frafjord and Agnes Rose. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.