Margaret Rasmussen

Margaret Sheard Blackwood Rasmussen was born in Bracken, Saskatchewan Canada on July 30th, 1930 during the great depression. The Lord called her home on April 11th, 2014 in Spokane, Washington. Margaret’s parents, William John Sheard, and Emily Margaret Buie Sheard, homesteaded in Canada and Montana. They were both Canadian immigrants. She was the 7th child of 11 children.

The family moved to St. Ignatius, Montana when Margaret was 3. She attended school in St. Ignatius and Hamilton, Montana. In 1945, during her sophomore year, the family moved to Chewelah, Washington where she graduated from high school. In 1949 her parents moved to Mica, Washington.

Margaret worked for Pacific Telephone until she met and married Mitch Blackwood in 1952. Mitch was in the Air Force and for 20 years they traveled the United States until he retired in Spokane in 1971. Together they had five daughters and Margaret was a full time mom, a job she took seriously. Margaret and Mitch were married 34 years when Mitch passed away from cancer.

In 1988, Margaret went to work as a secretary for the Liberty Lake Community Church. There she met Anton (Ras) Rasmussen, an elder in the church. They had a lot in common. Ras was also from Montana and he had taught and coached football in Chewelah. He was a retired vice principal of Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley. They married in 1991. They loved vacationing in Hawaii and went every other year until health issues prevented them from traveling.

Margaret was a devoted Christian and was active in the Liberty Lake Community Church. She was also very active in the Liberty Lake Garden Club. She loved gardening, cake decorating, traveling, helping those in need, and doting on her grandchildren. Her faith in God and her great sense of humor gave her the strength to face any adversity she had to endure in her life. She always said she was blessed to have had two great marriages and the love of two very good men.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Anton Rasmussen, her five daughters, Kathy Clayton (Mel), Pat Wagner (Stuart), Tina Rupp, Joni Chambers (Dave) and Joyce Bodie (Dave); four stepchildren, Lynn Vincent (Tom), Steve Rasmussen (Nancy), Gary Rasmussen (Judy), and Ann Gotfredson (Bill). She is also survived by three brothers, Norman Sheard, Donald Sheard, and Walt Sheard, as well as one sister, Eleanor Holmes. Together, Ras and Margaret have 23 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Emily Buie Sheard, two brothers, John Sheard and Allan Sheard, and four sisters, Olive Bryson, Anne Page, Verna Carr and Florence Newell.

A ‘Celebration of Life’ Ceremony will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, April 18, 2014 at the Liberty Lake Community Church, located at 704 S. Garry Street, Liberty Lake, Washington 99019. Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Spokane.