Mary T. Rasmussen

Mary T. Rasmussen, age 66 of New Hampton, Iowa passed away Thursday, July 28, 2011 at her home. Mary Theresa Rasmussen was born in Manchester, IA on May 12, 1945, the daughter of Clement Joseph and Theresa (Hoffman) Friedman. She grew up on their farm 2 ½ miles south of Lamont, IA and attended Lamont Grade School and Lamont High School, graduating in 1964. She continued living on the farm after graduation for four years to help her parents with the farming until her dad retired in 1968. In February of 1968, Mary moved to Winthrop, IA and started working at the Winthrop Veterinary Clinic and worked there until 1990. On August 21, 1982, Mary was united in marriage to Roger Rasmussen at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Winthrop. The couple lived in Independence, IA for nine years, Newton, IA for eleven years and in New Hampton for the past eight years. While in New Hampton, Mary worked at the Holy Family Parish/Good Shepherd Cluster office as a volunteer. She became very active in preparing liturgical schedules, assisting with the set up for liturgy celebrations and helping in many other church events. Mary was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Court Joan of Arc #388 and American Legion Auxiliary. Mary and Roger supported two sponsor children, Leighton Lee Thompson of McLaughlin, SD and J. Josephine Mary from Secunderabad, India. Mary is survived by her loving husband, Roger of 28 years; two brothers, Cletus Friedman of Vinton, IA and Cyril “Bud” Friedman of Bloomington, IL and three sisters, Lucille (Merlin) Goedken of Oelwein, IA, Eileen Thompson of Central City, IA and Sister Madonna Friedman, OSF of Waterloo, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clement and Theresa Friedman; two brothers, Robert and Jim Friedman, one sister, Lavonne Breckenfelder and her mother-in-law, Mary Bullard. Cemetery: Burial will be at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Oelwein, IA. Memorials may be directed to Good Shepherd Cluster, Cedar Valley Hospice and the Arthritis Foundation. Visitation will be from 4:00pm-8:00pm on Friday, July 29, 2011 with a 4:30pm Rosary and a 7:00pm Scriptural Wake Service at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in New Hampton and will continue at St. Joseph’s Gathering Space one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am, Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Holy Family Parish - St. Joseph’s Center in New Hampton with Fr. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the mass.