Oda Rasmussen

Oda Fonnesbeck Rasmussen, 96, of Orem, Utah, died peacefully, surrounded by family at the Ashford Assisted Living Center in Highland, Utah, on December 14, 2015. Oda was born on November 27, 1919, to James Martinus and Rosa Zbinden Fonnesbeck in Weston, Idaho. Both parents had immigrated to America as children with their families, her father from Copenhagen, Denmark, and her mother from Thun, Switzerland. Oda married Ellis Theo Ramussen of Redmond, Utah, on May 20, 1943, in the Logan, Utah, LDS Temple. They are the parents of five children: Ann (J.D.) Hancock of Rexburg, Idaho; Paula (David) Thomas of Orem, Utah; Mignon (Gary) Mills of West Jordan, Utah; David (Sue) Rasmussen of Marysville, Washington; and Leslie (Paul) Williams of Mill Creek, Utah. Oda has 28 grandchildren and 59 great grandchildren. Oda was on the Weston High School girls' basketball team and served as junior class president. After high school she stayed at home to help the family and worked as a bookkeeper for a farmers' grain cooperative. Then she enrolled in Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University), receiving her degree in elementary education and a teaching certificate. She taught at Weston Elementary School and helped care for her father and younger siblings after her mother's unexpected death in 1940. During this time she met Ellis Rasmussen, who had just begun teaching in Weston, and they married a year and a half later. After their marriage they lived in Weston, Idaho, and Richmond, Utah, eventually settling in Orem, Utah. Oda and Ellis were married for 68 years and were a complete partnership in their family life, which was their highest priority. During her lifetime, Oda served faithfully and diligently in LDS church positions, including teaching and leadership responsibilities and in temple service. In 1985, Oda and Ellis were called by the LDS Church as special representatives to the International Mission in Israel, where they assisted in preparing programs for the new BYU Jerusalem Center. Oda was an active member of the Orem City Library Board at the time the first phase of the new Orem City Library was being planned, vigorously promoting an expansive view of the library collection and space. She also served in the PTA, including a term as Orem High School PTA president during the 1961-62 school year. Oda was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings: Gladys Jenkins, Carmen Gibbs Campbell, Wanda Hancey, Jennie Duce, Myron Fonnesbeck, Gordon Fonnesbeck, Norman Fonnesbeck, Paul Fonnesbeck and MarJean Beck Lunt. By all her family and friends, Oda was known and loved for her personal and spiritual beauty, orderliness, creativity, dignity, diligence, warmth, caring, practicality, and good sense about everything she did in life. The funeral will be held Monday, December 28, at 10 a.m. at the Cherry Hill 9th Ward Chapel, 135 East 2000 South, Orem, Utah. A visitation will be held Sunday, December 27, from 6-8 p.m., at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street, Orem, and at the Cherry Hill 9th Ward prior to the service from 9-9:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund.

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