RASMUSSEN, John E

John E. "Ed" Rasmussen, 89, of Beloit, Kansas, formerly of Grand Island died Friday, January 23, 2004 at the Mitchell County Hospital-Long Term Care in Beloit, Kansas. Funeral services will be on Monday at 2:00 P.M. at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. The Rev Dr. Rick Grace, and the Rev. Vern Rice will officiate. Burial will be at the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Mr. Rasmussen was born on April 3, 1914 in Naponee, Nebraska to John E. and Blanche B. (Brown) Rasmussen. Survivors of the immediate family include two daughters and sons-in-law, Rita & Jay Rowh of Beloit, Kansas, and Lana & Steve Imes of Lincoln; and one brother, Daniel Rasmussen. Additional survivors include five grandchildren, Sarah Imes, Jennifer Imes, Grant Rowh, Brett Rowh, and Greg Rowh. Mr. Rasmussen grew up and received his education in Naponee, and graduated from Naponee High School in 1932. He married Vivian C. Mosher on October 31, 1942 in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Rasmussen then served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942-1945. He managed Foster Lumber Company in Norton, Kansas for 16 years, and then managed several other lumberyards for Foster in Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. He moved to Grand Island in 1965 and worked for Speltz-Shultz Lumber Company until his retirement in 1979. Mr. Rasmussen enjoyed birds and flowers. He was preceded in death by his wife on February 21, 1999, one sister, Bernice Carroll, and two brothers, Wilber Rasmussen, and Elmer Rasmussen. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimers Association of the Great Plains, Mitchell County Long Term Care Hospital, Sunken Gardens in Lincoln, or the Crane Meadows Nature Center in Grand Island.