Laree C. and Jack J. RASMUSSEN

1925 - 2020

RASMUSSEN, LaRee C. 12/3/1925 - 6/15/2020 Jack J. 8/19/1923 - 6/27/2020 LaRee was born in Central, near Richfield, Utah, the youngest of three daughters born to Parley and Iona Shelton Christensen. Jack was born in Monticello, Utah, raised in Ephraim, Utah, the sixth of nine children born to John "Jack" and Bertha Colby Rasmussen. Both were blessed with close-knit, loving families that knew sorrow early, as LaRee's father died when she was seventeen, and Jack's father died when Jack was only thirteen. After high school, Jack helped his older brother Thad run a cafe in Delta, Utah. Everything changed December seventh when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Jack went to the recruiter the next day and in January '42 started four years service in the 3rd Division of the Marine Corps. He was in the first group of Marines ever trained at Camp Pendleton. Jack was involved in military action on the islands of Bougainville, Guadalcanal, and the battles of Guam and Iwo Jima, where he was wounded. He finished his tour of duty as a Drill Instructor back at Camp Pendleton. Meanwhile, LaRee finished high school and attended one year at University of Utah. Her cousins from Ephraim introduced her to the handsome Marine. They courted and finally married on September 1, 1948. As a result of her writing a winning essay, Jack and LaRee were married on a radio show in Hollywood, got gifts and a dream honeymoon. Jack finished his degree in Soil Science at Utah State and started work in Bellingham WA for the Soil Conservation Service, which was part of USDA in 1949. Daughter Terese and son Thad were born in Bellingham. Sorrow struck again, when their newborn baby was severely brain-damaged by RH blood incompatibility just a few days after birth. Despite many hospitalizations, he lived almost three years. Jack's work took him to Prosser, Toppenish and finally a big promotion to Spokane. He completed soil surveys of Whatcom County, Benton County, and most of Yakima County. LaRee resumed her college studies while in Prosser, earning an AA from Columbia Basin College, then finished a Bachelor's in English and Elementary Ed. Continuing on, she received a Master's degree in Education. She worked as a reading specialist for Nine Mile Falls School District and Spokane School District. Jack and LaRee were life-long members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jack held leadership positions in Sunday School and over the Young Men's organization. In 1971, they were sealed together for eternity with their children in the Manti Utah temple. Jack and LaRee loved to travel. They went to Hawaii every year in their retirement. They toured Europe twice, and went on many cruises. They trained hard for the Bloomsday races in Spokane every year. Both earned medals for being in the top three finishers of their age groups. In 2011 due to LaRee's increasing forgetfulness, Jack decided to move down the street to Touchmark Senior Living. They enjoyed many activities and freedom from housework there. This April, Terese was finally able to move her parents to the Tri-Cities. They are survived by daughter Terese and son-in-law Roger Pratt, grandchildren Jonathan (Julie) Pratt and Jennifer (Richard) Pruiett of Kennewick, Rachel (David) Ritchey of San Jose CA , Kristen (Carlos) Canalessi of Sandy Utah; grandchildren Sarah and Sam Pratt, Michael and Amilyn Pruiett, and Cielo, Rey, and Jack Canalessi. Also sister-in-law Chloe Rasmussen and many loving nieces and nephews. Predeceased by son Thad, LaRee's sisters Barbara and Donna Vee, Jack's siblings, Thaddeus, Thora, unnamed baby boy, Beth, Lois, R.V., Charles Ned, and Nona. Burial will be at Mueller's Desert Lawn in Kennewick. WA with military honors for Jack.