Bill Rasmussen

Died 5/14/2016

William "Bill" Rasmussen passed away peacefully Saturday, May 14, 2016, at home, after a battle with prostate cancer.
He was 77.

Bill was born March 14, 1939, in Lewiston, to Arvel and Cora Rasmussen. He was raised in Lewiston and was one of five children. He developed his strong work ethic growing up on the family farm. Bill attended schools in Lewiston and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1957.

Bill met Judy Brown, the love of his life, in high school, and the two married in 1958. Bill spent two years in the U.S. Army during the Cuban missile crisis, and the couple lived in Alabama and Texas during this time, before returning to Lewiston in 1962. Bill and Judy started their family in 1965 and had two children.

After the Army, Bill worked his entire career at Potlatch Corp., where he held several key positions before retiring in 1994. Bill worked to live and treasured the annual vacations with his family to the Oregon Coast and Priest Lake. Bill earned his bachelor's degree from Lewis-Clark State College in 1982 and graduated magna cum laude. He loved to tinker and always had several projects going around the house. To say he was a talented craftsman, mechanic and overall jack-of-all-trades is a huge understatement. There was nothing he could not build or repair. Bill was a die-hard Gonzaga basketball and Seahawk football fan. He loved sports.

Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Judy; children Dean (Sherri) Rasmussen of Columbus, Miss., and Dawn (Tod) Burr of Lewiston; brothers Bob (Sue) Rasmussen of Priest Lake, Idaho, and Alan (Dorothy) Rasmussen of Woodburn, Ore.; three granddaughters; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his sisters, Arvella Grimm and Vicky Grant.

A celebration of Bill's life and open house will take place between 1 and 3 p.m. June 11 at the home of Dawn and Tod Burr. Their address is 7663 Aerie Drive in Lewiston.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Elite Hospice who went above and beyond in helping Bill in his last days.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Idaho State Veterans Home at Lewiston.