Charla Lea Rasmussen

Charla Lea Rasmussen, 71, passed away Sept. 13, 2011, in Dallas, Texas.
She was born June 11, 1940, in North Platte to Cecil and Alice (Daly) Goodwin.
Charla got a late start on her professional calling. After raising her three boys, around the age of 40, she left her hometown and headed to Enid, Okla., to attend seminary. She received her Master's of Divinity from Phillips University in 1986 and devoted her life to helping people overcome addiction. She worked many years as a clinical coordinator for Baptist Health Care Recovery Program establishing chemical dependency treatment and recovery programs across the United States. She was asked to establish similar programs for treatment centers in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Wellington, New Zealand.
In 1992, Charla was named the Lora Roe Memorial Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor of the Year in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the profession of addiction counseling. That same year, the Governor of Oklahoma proclaimed Aug. 4 as Charla Rasmussen-Scarbrough Day. She also served as president of the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselors Certification Board. Throughout her life, Charla touched countless lives.
Charla is survived by her three sons, Randy (fiancé Missy Zadina), of Morristown, N.J., Scott, of North Platte, and Mike (Lynn), of Dallas, Texas; and sister, Sharon (Harrison) Halligan, of North Platte; nine grandchildren, Matt, Josh, Micah, Hannah, Peyton, Parker, Chase, Sawyer and Gracie; and numerous nieces, nephews; and loving friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and two sisters, Barbara Howar and Beverly Thornburg.
Memorials are suggested to the Church of the Apostles or The Magdalen House Hope Fund in lieu of flowers.
Services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the First Christian Church in North Platte.