On January 1, 2024, Mary Ann Rasmussen, was joyously welcomed to her heavenly Home by her blessed Lord, reuniting with her beloved family and cherished friends and immediately joining the Choir, organizing, and performing skits and plays, and diggin in the dirt, producing the most gorgeous roses, an art following her all the days of her earthly life.
August 26,1931, in Mishawaka, Indiana, Gertrude and Ambrose Quinn happily and lovingly welcomed their first child, baby girl, Mary, who, wasting not a single minute, began showin off her Irish roots, displaying infectious good humor, insatiable curiosity, zest for life, but above all compassion and love for everyone!! She encountered on her long, earthly journey. Always smiling, always ready with a kind word, eager to help anyone!! @ the drop of a hat!!
Relocating to Minnesota on a family farm in Clontarf, the small family then moved to Benson, where Mary, joined by a brother, Patrick, spent a happy and adventurous childhood, exploring the Lakeside country, immersing herself in various, scholastic, and artistic areas in school, including civic projects, home economics, and of course music, Band and Choir.
After Graduation, Mary’s love of travel and adventure, pointed her towards San Antonio, Texas, where, after one year of college, and at the urging of friends, Mary abandoned her pursuit of Sociology, returned to Minnesota, entering Saint Katherine’s School of Medical Technology, in St. Cloud.
There, at a dance, she met her first husband, Dale Morman, the two were married in June of 1955, striking out for the Black Hills of South Dakota, when Dale was offered a partnership with Sturgis attorney, Percy Helm, tragically passing soon after their arrival. Undaunted, summoning her German ancestry, Mary worked tirelessly as a Med Tech, driving an extremely dangerous, Boulder Canyon Road from Sturgis to Deadwood’s St. Joseph Hospital.
Seizing on an opportunity to remain closer to her family, now including babies, daughter, Patricia, and son, Brian, Mary joined Fort Meade, South Dakota Veterans Hospital, where she remained in employment as a Med Tech through the mid-70s when a disability forced her retirement.
Two more children, Anne Marie, and Gregory Leo completed her family, for whom she would have wrestled the devil to protect!!
NEVER!! one to just sit around, Mary became a member of VFW Ladies Auxiliary, SD Cowbelles, Key City Lanes Women’s bowling, Sweet Adelines, Beta Sigma Phi, and numerous city sponsored theatrical productions.
Deeply, devout, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, became her home away from home, actively participating in the Altar Society, Holy Family Circle, Cantering, and of course St Francis’s Choir, including director for St. Francis Of Assisi elementary school in the 60’s.
In her rare spare time, Mary loved being outdoors, transforming the large backyard of her home on 1622 Pine Street into a paradise!! Other joys included cooking, baking, watching her favorite college football team, Notre Dame, and above all, spending time with her family.
A second chance at romance and lifelong partnership, Mary wed, Richard Rasmussen in November 1989, becoming a bookkeeper in his successful, digging business.
Blessing and enriching their lives, her children: Pat Ashley, and Greg Morman; grandchildren, Melissa (Trevor) Anderson, Brian Erickson, Jerred Ashley, Mason Morman, Kayla Morman, Erica (Gabe) Brummett, and Tony (Ashley) Zerr; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Never stopped by fragile health, and personal tragedy, her eldest son, Brian’s death in 1986, youngest daughter, Anne, in 2015, and her second husband, Dick Rasmussen’s passing in 2023, Mary Ann continued to her very last breath thinking of others, performing little acts of kindness, and always, ALWAYS!! With a smile!!
Some of Mary Ann’s favorite sayings, when asked about her health, “Fine as frog hair!!”and “oh, the least I can and get by with it!!” “If I were any better, I’d run away!!” “Still upright and taking nourishment!!”
Now cuttin the rug, singing her heart out, and enjoying her dad’s famous Tom and Jerry’s!! (Wink) No tears now!! No sad faces!!
This Irish lass is finally home!!
Special Thanks goes out to the staff and residents in Edgewood Assisted Living in Rapid City, tirelessly, compassionately welcoming Mary when, in 2022, a sudden turn in her health tore her from her beloved Sturgis. These wonderful people transformed her sadness into happiness, and her family will always be indebted to them!
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. and a Rosary to begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 11, 2023, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis, SD.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 12, 2023, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis, SD, with burial in St. Bridget’s Cemetery, De Graff, Minnesota.
Mary Ann requested, in place of flowers, memorials to Friedrich’s Ataxia Foundation, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Sturgis, and St Martin’s Chapel, Sturgis.
Finally, a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who touched and passed through Mary Anne’s life, coloring, and enriching her existence.
Cards can be sent to Pat J Ashley, PO Bx 8, Sturgis, SD 57785
