James Keith Rasmussen

James Keith Rasmussen departed this life hearing the comforting words of Psalm 46 on Wednesday, August 31st at Manor Care Nursing Home in Kingsford, Michigan. Keith was born on February 29, 1924 in the small farming community of Jetmore, Kansas to the late Louis and Fern (Benge) Rasmussen. Keith was the second of four children and grew up helping his dad farm as well as learning from him how to be an excellent carpenter and proficient mechanic. Upon graduating from high school, Keith enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific fleet as a radio operator on the USS San Juan during World War II. After the war he came back to Jetmore and married Marcheta Hoagland in 1946. They moved to a farm near his parents and started their own business, K & M Dairy. Keith and Marcheta milked 48 cows, pasteurized and bottled the milk themselves and then sold it in local stores and door to door in Jetmore. While living on the farm they had four sons, Ric, Rod, Greg and Galen. He enjoyed teaching them how to build anything and how to work on machinery and vehicles. In the late fifties they sold the cows and moved into a house in town that he built himself. He continued to distribute milk around southwest Kansas through Fairmont Foods. Keith and Marcheta then had two daughters, Lisa and Lorna. Keith loved taking his children with him on the milk route and working alongside them on many building projects in the family shop. On the side, Keith was a repairman and was frequently called upon to fix refrigeration, plumbing, and a multitude of other jobs. In the early 70’s Keith embarked on a business with their sons, Four Sons Flying Service, a full service private aircraft fixed base operation in Dodge City, Kansas. Keith loved to fly and had gotten his private pilot’s license as a young man and all of his sons are accomplished pilots. Music and faith were always extremely important in Keith’s life. He grew up playing the tenor sax and making music with his family. He and Marcheta were members of the Methodist church in Jetmore where they sang in the choir. He was a frequent soloist for countless weddings and funerals throughout the years. All his children learned instruments and sang together in church. Keith’s deep bass voice was the solid foundation in a quintet with his grown sons. In 1980 Keith and his sons sold the flying service and the family moved to western Colorado to fulfill a dream of playing music in the charming town of Ouray. For three summers Keith and his family presented the Rasmussen Family Show, a nightly musical variety show for the tourists of southwest Colorado. During those years Keith and two of his sons started a construction business in Ouray. Keith and Marcheta retired to Montrose, Colorado. Keith always had a wonderful, adventurous spirit and the two enjoyed several years exploring the country and visiting family and friends. Marcheta passed from this life 10 years ago after 59 years together, but Keith continued their plans of traveling and visiting their children’s families. Keith married Fern Welch Fox in 2008 and they also enjoyed traveling. Keith and Fern resided in Colorado until he came to visit his daughter and son-in-law in Kingsford, Michigan the summer of 2014. Since that following winter Keith resided at Manor Care. He continued to enjoy music and visiting with his family. In addition to his parents and wife, Marcheta, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Dorlene Eichman, Joann Six, and brother, Bill Rasmussen. Keith is survived by his wife Fern Fox Rasmussen of Loveland, Colorado, six children, Ric (Karen) of Grand Junction, Colorado, Rod (Karen) of Ouray, Colorado, Greg (Lynette) of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, Galen (Bonnie) of Montrose, Colorado, Lisa Lowry (Kenneth) of Loveland, Colorado, and Lorna March (Michael) of Kingsford, Michigan, 20 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, two cousins and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service for Keith will be held in Jetmore, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in his memory. Condolences to the family of James Keith Rasmussen may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the arrangements.

James Keith Rasmussen

February 29, 1924 - August 31, 2016