Katherine M. Rasmussen

Katherine Margaret Gestson Rasmussen, of Westminster, Colorado, passed away on Thursday, July 14, 2016. She was 87. Katherine was born on April 2, 1929, in Portland, Oregon, to John and Thordis (Eyolfson) Gestson. The family later moved to Edinburgh, North Dakota, where she grew up. Following her graduation from Edinburgh High School, Katherine attended nursing school in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to obtain a Registered Nursing degree. Katherine met Lowell Andrew Rasmussen of rural Drayton, North Dakota, while he also was in Grand Forks studying Geological Engineering at the University of North Dakota. They were married on September 28, 1951, in Edinburgh and were together for 63 years. Lowell was employed as a petroleum geologist, a profession that took them to many states from Texas to North Dakota and to Canada. A son, Randall Scott Rasmussen, was born in 1952 while they lived in Colorado City, Texas, and a second son, Lowell Craig Rasmussen, was born in 1954 while they lived in Aurora, Colorado. In 1958, Lowell took a job as a geologist in The Philippines. A third son, Rick Miguel Rasmussen, was born in 1959 in Manila. They returned to the United States in 1963, and their family lived in Westminster, Colorado, Los Angeles, California, and Casper, Wyoming, where Lowell explored for uranium. Katherine returned to her nursing career, working at hospitals in Los Angeles, Casper and Denver. In 1973, they moved to Westminster, where Katherine lived until her death. Katherine is survived by her sons, Randall, Craig and Rick (Julie); four granddaughters, Corinne (Frank), Dustina, Allison and Lauren; one grandson, Max; three great-granddaughters, Lilly, Ruby and Cora; and a brother, Steve (Lucille). She was preceded in death by her husband, Lowell, in September 2014, her parents, and one brother, Magnus. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, 2016, at Advent Lutheran Church in Westminster. Visitation will be at the church for one hour prior to the service. Katherine will be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, joining her husband, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be directed to the Alzheimer's Association.