Helen I. Rasmussen

Missoula-Helen I. Rasmussen, 88, passed away April 14, 2014 at Village Health Care Center of acute pancreatitis. Helen was born July 7, 1925 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Marvel E. and John M. Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs was killed in a mining accident shortly thereafter. Her mother later married Joseph Gasser and he was her father throughout her life. With the Gasser family she had four sisters and one brother.
The family moved to Missoula in about 1936 where Helen attended Lowell Grade School and Missoula County High School graduating in 1944. She then went to Seattle to work for Boeing Airplane Company as a riveter.
She married Neil Winegar in 1945, and they had two daughters. They later divorced. In 1951 she married Lawrence Rasmussen in Seattle. This was a start to a wonderful marriage of 63 years.
In 1952 she began working for Buttrey's Food in Missoula. She worked as a grocery checker until 1982 except for two years when the family moved to Livingston. After many years with Buttrey's she took a seasonal job as a cook for the U.S. Forest Service Aerial Fire Depot where she cooked up a storm and enjoyed it thoroughly. After retirement, she and Lawrence spent numerous years travelling.
Helen was a member of V.F.W. Auxilliary. She also was active in Girl Scouts and was a member of the Retail Clerk Union for 25 years.
Survivors include her husband Lawrence at the family home in Missoula, daughters; Val Masters (Earl) of Nine Mile, Janeille Rasmussen of Chicago, sons; Mike (Harriett) of Stevensville, Tim (Pam) Kennewick, WA, sisters; Virginia DeMaster of Salt Lake City, UT, Carolyn Campbell (Urcel) of Polson and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by siblings JoAnn Gasser, Marvel Wilcox, and Joseph Gasser, Jr.
At her request no services will be held. Burial will be at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers you may make contributions to a charity of your choice.
Cremation is under the care of Cremation & Burial Society of the Rockies. Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

Read Helen Rasmussen's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.