Margaret I Rasmussen

Lone Grove, OK

Youngest of 10 children

Survivors include: daughters Sandra Apukka (Sandy) of Shelton, WA, Karen Wisenor and husband Dick, also of Shelton and son Randall Renfrow (Randy) and wife Sharon of Olympia, WA. She was also survived by 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

She worked at the family owned grocery store in Lone Grove from the time she was 15 delivering groceries. Upon graduation from high school, she received a scholarship to college in Missouri but “Papa” as she always called him, would not let her go that far away from home.

When she was 16, she had met Edgar Renfrow in Lone Grove, who was in the Army and home on leave. He had come to visit his sister Delois and her husband Floyd. They kept in touch through letters and when he was home the summer after she was out of school, their relationship became more serious and they married October 9, 1941. They had 3 children.

Margaret and Edgar “moved west” around 1947 after Karen, daughter #2 was born. With two children and all their worldly possessions in and on” their car, Margaret used to quip about how they looked like someone from the Grapes of Wrath leaving the depressed Oklahoma to seek their fortune out West, but at least they had “two mattress’s on top of their car”. They live in California for a short time where one of her sister was, then headed on north to Oregon with other friends from Oklahoma who were all looking for work. They settled in the Rogue Valley in Medford, OR. Son Randy was born while they lived there.

In 1959 they made another move to Roseburg, OR where they were living when Edgar died of a heart attack in 1971. Margaret had been working at the V.A. hospital and after the death of her husband, transferred to Vancouver, WA to the veteran’s hospital to work and it was in Vancouver that she met and married Louis Rasmussen in March of 1972. They had met at a cribbage function and went on to play in tournaments all over the states, often taking the championships. They were married 18 years when he died.

After he passed, she decided to move to Olympia, WA where her 3 children lived. She lived independently for about 15 years doing lots of traveling. Cruises to Hawaii, Panama Canal, several train trips and many charter bus trips with friends. Branson was one of her favorites and she continued to drive back down to Medford visiting her brother and sister. She made many trips back to visit her family in Oklahoma and Texas always making sure it was never in the spring during “tornado season”!

In 2003, Margaret moved into her private apartment at a large home her son had built with two “in-law quarters”. But after 5 years, and being a very social person, Margaret decided to move into Bonaventure, a new senior residential facility that was being built close by. She prided herself on being a “Charter Member” one of the first 10 to move in wand was the only original resident there when she passed. She love all the activities especially her Saturday 2 p.m. Dime Game with other residents.

Margaret was always helping a friend or neighbor, whether it was getting information over the phone or hemming a friend’s 6 new pair of pajamas by hand that were too long. The staff at Bonaventure helped her to feel needed and asked her to assist them in greeting new or potential new residents, showing them around and answering questions. She kept on top of pretty much everything that went on. Stacy, one of the evening staff that Mom visited with quite a bit down at the main desk said… “Margaret and I were called the Gossip Queens”. Stacy also said that Margaret often brought the staff her specialty deviled eggs that were the best! One Easter, she drove all around Bonaventure inside and hid plastic eggs for the residents to hunt for. When Lena, a 100 year old moved in, Margaret found out she was from Oklahoma. They bonded immediately and Margaret continued to fuss over and assist with Lena until Lena died.

She continued to drive herself until she finally sold her care in 2011 (then wanted to buy it back three days later). After over 75 years of driving and not having a car at her disposal, she decided to call Ricky at Rick’s Auto, where she and the family had had their vehicles serviced for years and Ricky promptly delivered her a car to use for as long as she needed. It never left her reserved parking spot. After about 2 months, the car was returned and she decided taking the Bonaventure bus would have to do.

She now traded her auto wheels for “hoveround wheels” and raced up and down the halls of Bonaventure checking on and chatting up everyone. Margaret’s favorite though was to keep in touch with her many family and friends over the phone or sending a birthday, anniversary or get-well card. She had hundreds of greeting cards, you could be sure to hear from her at all the holidays and she received as many or more than she sent. That connection to her family and friends was extremely important to her.

The day she died, she had taken a dial-a-lift to a nearby doctor’s office. She decided to ride her hoveround back to Bonaventure since it was only a few blocks and a sunny day. She was tired when she returned and took a nap and it was there in her chair they staff found her when she had not gone down for the evening meal. She had suffered a stroke. She would not have done well in a nursing home being partially paralyzed and a blessing considered by many that she went so quickly.

Margaret lived a rich, full life and was loved by many and will be missed by all. She will be remembered for her giving and generous nature and of course … her telephone connections.