Esther Alvina Rasmussen

Esther Alvina Rasmussen, the daughter of Marinus and Johanne (Thygesen) Christensen, was born July 12, 1917, at her parents’ home west of Audubon, Iowa and died November 5, 2015, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa at the age of 98 years, 3 months, and 23 days.
Esther was baptized August 20, 1917, at her parent’s home and confirmed in 1932 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. She attended rural schools in Audubon County then helped at home.
On December 16, 1937, she was united in marriage to Lester Frosig Rasmussen at the Bethany Lutheran Church northeast of Kimballton, Iowa. Two children Ila Johanna and Karl Lester were born to this union. They worked for other farmers near Harlan, Iowa and Buck Grove. Then moved to Guthrie County and farmed there for three years before moving to a farm west of Audubon. Later they purchased a farm in Viola Township. They grew row crops and raised livestock until they retired from farming and moved into Audubon in 1969.
Esther was employed at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa for several years. She enjoyed her job and was fond of visiting with the residents. Lester died May 26, 1994. Esther lived at home until she moved to the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa in 2014.
Esther was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. She loved working outdoors. She always had a large garden raising vegetables and many varieties of flowers which attracted butterflies that she loved to watch. She raised African Violets which she enjoyed sharing with her friends.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband Lester; were her parents; and her brothers Alfred M. and wife Hilda Christensen, Henry and wife Marie Christensen, Elmer and wife Caroline Christensen, and her sisters Edith and husband Earl Wiges and Caroline Christensen.
Survivors include her children Ila Johanna and husband Terry Waldron of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Karl Lester and wife Delores Rasmussen of Cheney, Kansas; her grandchildren Phillip Terry and wife Leslie Waldron of Matthews, North Carolina, Christopher Jon and wife Maribel Phoenix Waldron of Belchertown, Massachusetts, Joni Marie and husband Alex Young of Wichita, Kansas, Julie Ann and husband Todd Olmstead of Derby, Kansas, and Karen Kay and husband Jeremy Kendrick of Mulvane, Kansas; 9 great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Doug Opp on Monday, November 9, 2015, at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be Christopher Waldron, Phillip Waldron, Marvin Christensen, Wayne Moreland, Douglas Christensen, and James Wheeler. The family will meet with friends on Sunday afternoon November 8, 2015, from 2:00 P.M until 4:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.