Florence Rasmussen

Florence Rasmussen, 96, 1509 Tokay Avenue, Delano, California, died on November 22, 2006 at Delano Skilled Nursing Facility. She was born August 26, 1910 in Ohio, Illinois, the daughter of Jay and Tina (Mayne) Guthrie. She grew up on a farm in the Ohio / LaMoille areas and graduated from LaMoille High School in 1927. Florence took the necessary courses to become an elementary school teacher and began her teaching career in a rural school prior to starting her family. Florence received her teaching credential from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. Florence married Peter Rasmussen in the Guthrie home in Bureau County on March 2, 1934 and was a farmwife for more than 50 years. After the family?s move to the Amboy area, Florence was a 4-H leader and a teacher at Harmon and Amboy Elementary schools. Upon retiring from teaching, she continued to substitute and tutor students. In the course of her life, Florence was a member of the Harmon United Methodist Church, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School and helped lead the church?s youth group with husband, Peter. Florence was also a charter member of the Amboy Depot Museum Commission, member of the Amboy Women?s Club, and the Lee County Homemakers Association. In special recognition, Florence was granted the Illinois State Outstanding Science Teacher Award and the Illinois State Mother of the Year Award. She also served as Grand Marshall of the Amboy Depot Days parade. Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Peter, her parents, one sister, Hazel Biers of Mendota, Illinois, and one brother, Everett Guthrie of Bagley, Wisconsin. She is survived by daughters, Janet Troxel and husband, Gordon of Delano, California; Gladys Price of Billings, Montana; Pauline McIntosh and husband, Jerry of Fresno, California; sons, Paul Rasmussen and wife, Judy of Caruthers, California; Virgil Rasmussen of Billings, Montana; granddaughter, Kersten Valentine-Rothenberg and husband, Karl of La Puente, California; grandsons, Kent Valentine and wife, Meg of Austin, Texas; Eric Valentine and wife, June of Hardy, Virginia; Perry Price and wife, Cristy of Billings, Montana; Phillip Price and wife, Stephanie of North Grandy, Connecticut; David McIntosh of Modesto, California; Bradley McIntosh and wife, Stacy of Oakdale, California; grandson, Ryan Rasmussen and fiancé Jennifer Gallyer of Merced, California; great grandchildren, Anthony, Jessica, Brook, Chelsea, Alyssa, Sam, Kyle, Leslie, and a little Valentine due in January; sister-in-law Charlotte Guthrie of Bagley, Wisconsin; many nieces and nephews. Funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 1, 2006 at the Harmon United Methodist Church, 417 Sterling Road, Harmon, IL 61042, with Rev. Monty Fox. Burial will be in Van Orin Repose Cemetery in Van Orin, IL. Visitation will be 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM, Thursday, November 30 at Mihm-Jones Funeral Home, 303 E Main St, Amboy, IL 61310 and from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Friday at the church. Memorials have been established to the Harmon United Methodist Church, 202 North Grove Street, Harmon, IL 61042 (815) 359-7302 and Amboy Depot Museum, 50 South East Ave., Amboy, IL 61310-1310, (815) 857-4700

Florence Rasmussen

August 26, 1910 - November 22, 2006