Geraldine “Gerry” Rasmusson, age 90, of Glenwood, died Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at Glenwood Village Care Center. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 A.M. on Monday, October 2nd at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood, with Fr. Joe Vandeberg officiating. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 10 A.M. and running until the time of service. Parish prayers and the rosary will begin at 9:30 A.M. in the sanctuary. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Glenwood. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.
Geraldine Irene “Gerry” Rasmusson was born on December 22, 1932 in Tracy, MN Later, the family moved to a farm near Westport. Gerry was the 11th of 16 children born to the late Edward and Mary (Hauger) McKigney. She attended a country school for eight years before graduating from St. Francis High School in Little Falls in 1951. Her commitment to service led her to join the Dominican Sisters of Kenosha, WI, in January 1952, where she eventually became a Third Order Dominican, which she continued throughout her life. During her time in Wisconsin, she pursued and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While working as an RN, she continued her nursing education, earning additional accreditations in various nursing specialties, and also advancing her religious education. Two of her most significant contributions included developing an ICU and gerontology unit at hospitals in Wisconsin and California. She also worked as a school nurse while in California.
In 1981, Gerry returned home to Minnesota to care for her ailing mother. During this period, she attended a dance where she met Lawrence “Larry” Rasmusson, a friend of her brother, Eddie. Larry was a bachelor farmer from Cyrus. After a brief courtship, they married on December 4, 1981, in Padua and shared 20 years of fun and adventure on Larry’s farm near Cyrus and at their lake place on Lobster Lake. After Larry’s passing in June 2001, Gerry continued to reside on the farm. She took great pride in being able to maintain the property, with the help of her John Deere lawn tractor, until she was 83. In August of 2016, Gerry moved to Ridgewood Villa in Glenwood, where, she made many new friends. She particularly enjoyed being able to participate in Bible studies and engage in lively discussions about faith and world events.
Gerry’s interests were as varied as they were passionate. She and Larry enjoyed fishing, dancing, and the day to day adventures of farm life. Following Larry’s death, she volunteered at local nursing homes, sharing her faith and serving as an ombudsman. During her years on the farm she planted and raised beautiful flower gardens. Her unwavering faith was her guide throughout her 90 years. After marrying Larry, Gerry became a member of Assumption Catholic Church in Morris and, since 2016 she has been a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood.
Gerry passed away peacefully at Glenwood Village Care Center on September 26, 2023, at the age of 90. Her life was a testament to her unwavering faith, her dedication to service, and her love for her family and community. Gerry’s legacy of compassion, adventure, and passion will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved her.
Gerry is survived by two sisters, Alice Kinney of Sauk Centre and Dorothy (Walbert) Peters of Springdale, Ark; one brother, Leo McKigney of Villard; a sister-in-law, Barbara McKigney of Royal Oak, MI; and a brother-in-law, Jerome Peters of Sauk Centre; along with many loving nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Mary; her husband, Lawrence Rasmusson; and her siblings: Vincent (Audrey), Mary (Bill) Baumgartner, Edward, Charles, Theresa (Edward) Helm, Helen (Al) Grandy, Rita (Nicholas) Jansen, James, Robert, Joan Peters, Sister Louise McKigney, Baby Boy McKigney (infant), sisters-in-law, Marcy McKigney and Arlene McKigney; and brother-in-law, James Kinney.
To send online condolences to the family visit hoplinfuneralhome.com and click on obituaries.
