Nancy Lee Rasmussen

Nancy Lee Rasmussen, the woman known to many simply as ‘Nan’, beloved wife, loving mother, treasured grandmother and great-grandmother, loving sister, aunt, and friend to many, entered her eternal rest on January 27, 2022 at the age of 83, after a lengthy illness.

Nancy was born on March 18, 1938 to Tom and Helen (Styris) Armstrong in Fresno, California. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Ronald Rasmussen, her children; Robert, Russell and Patty Rasmussen, her grandchildren; Katie Dwyer and J.R., Kyle Rasmussen and Kendall, her great-grandchildren; Olivia and Kennedy Dwyer. She is also survived by her siblings; Doris Mueller and Richard, Arlene Nachtigall and Gary, Tom Armstrong and Toni, beloved nieces and nephews and all that loved her throughout her 83 years. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Bobby Armstrong.

Nancy attended grade school at Pomona Grammar School and after a district unification attended American Union Elementary School. In high school at Washington Union, Nancy was active in the girls athletic association, playing speed-away, basketball, baseball, and tennis. She was a cheerleader and served as activity chairman. Upon graduating, she attended Fresno City College while continuing her competitive ways on the tennis team.

Faith and her church always played a big role in Nancy’s life and the lives of her family. Raised attending Cedar Avenue Baptist Church, where she accepted Jesus as her savior at 9 years old, she later followed her kids to attendance at Mountain View Church. She served the church as a Sunday school teacher, AWANA’s leader, quietly provided bibles to kids without one, as well as supporting various charities and church functions through donations. She was delighted when she could share her home and live her faith through hosting. She was known for hosting epic Mother’s Day festivities and planning elaborate games for the family Christmas Progressive Party.

Nancy so enjoyed social interaction with her family. She was always interested to listen intently about what her nieces and nephews were up to, who was doing what, when things were happening and how she could get a group together to attend a game or performance. A trip was never far off as her girls’ trips to ‘the city’ San Francisco at Christmas time were always highly anticipated. She also brought ‘the ladies’ to the races on Saturday nights at Lemoore Jet Bowl and later to Hanford and Madera Speedway. She always seemed to bring the fun wherever she went. She was always ready to take the kids and their friends water skiing, snow skiing, or to head out for the friendly beat down game of tennis or golf!

Nancy’s most favorite vacation spot was Napili Shores, Maui, Hawaii – if she could find any reason to book a Hawaii trip she did it. She absolutely loved it there.

Family vacations, family parties (and... invite your friends), family trips to Hume Lake, Morro Bay, and couples' trips with good friends were a treasure to her. The destinations were wonderful and amazing but the relationships were what she held close to her heart.

Nancy worked hard so she could play hard. She worked outside the home at Jake’s Auto Body and then for 48 years at the family business, Rasmussen Auto Repair. She was always a smiling and welcoming presence in the office until her retirement. However, even as her finger was firmly on the pulse of the business, she could always arrange for a great day of play! Whether it was dirt bikes with her boys, tennis with the girls, golf, skiing, boating, biking at Hume, she even rode a horse at Avila once – she embraced life with grit and determination to win.... or at least beat you!

Beauty and the outdoors led Nancy to a passion for gardening. Her large yard offered her continuing opportunities to plant, cultivate, and trim, then dream of new projects to bring to life. Every gardener knows that no garden is ever finished, there’s always one more plant that should be bought so that it can be nurtured and enjoyed. She took great pride in her lush patio pots and beautiful topiaries.

Her unequalled passion and loves were certainly her grandchildren and great-granddaughters – they stood head and shoulders above every other love in her life. No one could possibly be as talented or as smart as her kids, that’s what a good grandma is right?! Nearing the end, she couldn’t remember their names, but she would always ask, “what are our little girls doing?”

Nancy will be remembered by many for various different things. But for those of us closest to her, she will be most fondly remembered for her love and devotion to family, her joy in laughter, her zest for learning and activity and most importantly for her ever-present devotion to her beloved Lord. Nancy steadfastly held to her Faith, which has given us Hope, and that leaves us with Love.

…. and the greatest of these is Love.

A Visitation for Nancy will be held Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Boice Funeral Home, 308 Pollasky Avenue, Clovis, California 93612.

A Celebration of life will occur Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Mountain View Church, 3600 North Fowler Avenue, Fresno, California 93727.

For guests who prefer to take COVID precautions, Mountain View Church has ample seating space to provide social distancing during the service. Additional precautions are at your personal discretion.

In Lieu of Flowers, Contributions in Nancy's memory may be made to:

Hume Lake Christian Camps, 64144 Hume Lake Road, Hume, California 93628, https://hume.org;

Mountain View Church-Children's Ministry, 3600 North Fowler Avenue, Fresno, California 93727, https://www.mountainview.org;

Fresno Pacific University Athletics, 1717 South Chestnut Avenue, Fresno, California 93702, https://www.fpuathletics.com; and

Hinds Hospice, 2490 West Shaw Suite 101, Fresno, California 93711, https://www.hindshospice.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.boicefuneralhome.com for the Rasmussen family.