Deseret Morning News, 05/30/10

Gary J Rasmussen, 74, passed away at Bear Lake Memorial Hospital on May 27, 2010. In spite of having homes in North Logan and Hurricane, Utah, Montpelier and the Bear Lake Valley were `home' for Gary and Atheleen. They have five surviving children - Derk (Linda) Rasmussen of Farmington, Ut; Mitchell (Georgia) Rasmussen of Centerville, Ut; Sherrie Lin (David) Sorge of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Gregory T. (Debbie) Rasmussen of Ammon, Idaho; and Bruce (Carrie) Rasmussen of Kaysville, Ut. Gary is the son of Royal and Rena Rasmussen (both deceased) of Montpelier, Idaho. He was born at his grandparents home (George and Rena Bunn) in Paris, Idaho.

Gary attended school in Montpelier and was the starting quarterback on the "Bears" football team and in his senior year was awarded the "Whitman Trophy" as the outstanding back on the team. Gary and Atheleen were high school sweethearts and were married after high school graduation on August 16, 1954 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Gary attended college at Idaho State University and at the University of Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. degree in Mathematics. He began a lifelong information systems career at Boeing in Seattle, Washington and ended his working career as the Director of the Development, Information and Communication Systems Department at Church headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. In total, he spent 27 years at church headquarters. His life was full of service. He served as a counselor in the bishopric in Richland, Washington, and as a bishop twice - first as the Bishop of the West Bountiful 6th Ward and later as Bishop of the Montpelier 4th Ward. He also served as Stake President of the West Bountiful, Utah Stake, and as a Counselor in a Mission Presidency in New Hampshire. Among Gary and Atheleen's fondest memories are the memories of those years when they lived in their cabin overlooking Bear Lake and attended the St. Charles Ward. Atheleen Gale Taylor Rasmussen currently lives in North Logan, Utah. Although both Gary and Atheleen's lives have been full of service, they've also been full of family, friends, and fun. Their home had visitors almost every week and sometimes every day. They loved fishing together, spending time with family together and traveling together. In their later years they became world travelers. Their lives have been richly devoted to family, friends and those they served. In addition to their five children, the couple has 21 wonderfully talented grandchildren. Gary is also survived by his brother K.B. (Jeanne) Rasmussen of Fish Haven, Idaho. Services will be held on Saturday, June 5 at 12:00 noon in the St. Charles Chapel, St. Charles, Idaho. Interment will be in the Montpelier Cemetery.