Helen Fern Rasmussen, 95, died on Saturday, October 27, 2007, at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke.

Helen Hermsen was born on August 13, 1912 in Naper, Nebraska to John H. and Mabel (DuVall) Hermsen. She was the eldest girl of nine children. Helen started elementary school in Nebraska but her family moved to rural St. Charles, South Dakota when she was in the second grade. Schooling was important to Helen, so she not only walked a distance to school each day but worked for various families and the Mark Stewart Store during that time to support herself and her family. She did graduate from the St. Charles Public School which she was proud of. She talked of the friends she met, playing basketball and her love for dancing. She was a great seamstress and enjoyed making her own dresses for those special occasions.

On December 27, 1933, Helen was united in marriage to Harry Edwin Rasmussen at a small church in Lake Andes, SD. They took over complete operation of the ranch his family owned north of St. Charles when Harrys parents retired to Omaha, NE. To this union were born two daughters, Shirley and Harriet. Their niece, Sharon Meader Koberstein, also made her home with the family for ten years when her mother was ill.

In 1974 when they retired, they built a new home on the ranch. Harry passed away in 1983 but Helen continued to live there until 2006 when she moved into the Haisch Haus Assisted Living in Bonesteel. Helen was a member of the Herrick Methodist Church and past member of the Star Extension Club. She enjoyed quilting and politics.

Helen was always taking care of people and she enjoyed doing it. She cared for her younger siblings, the families she worked for and her niece Sharon. After her daughter Shirley passed away, she took pleasure in those grandchildren staying with her each summer. Harriets children were fortunate to live on the ranch by her and were shaped by her love and wisdom too. In Helens later years, she found great joy in having her great-grandchildren visit her, as well as relatives from all over.

Survivors include her daughter Harriet Bailey and her husband Gayle; a sister, Edna Krambeck and a brother, John Hermsen; grandchildren Nancy (Mike) Mickelson, John (Enrica) Kruse, Susan Kruse, Jennifer Bailey, Missy (John) Wartenbee and Chris (Mindie) Bailey; great-grandchildren Anthony and Carly Mickelson, Elijah Everette, Ashlyn and Abigail Bailey and Jackson Wartenbee; son-in-law William (Bonnie) Kruse; nephew-in-law Bruce (Karen) Koberstein; her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers George, Bob, Bill and Dale Hermsen; sisters Ruby Williams and Leone Arnold; her daughter Shirley Kruse and special niece Sharon Koberstein.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 10:30 AM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke. Burial will be in the Knollcrest Cemetery, Naper, NE. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 8 PM, with a 7 PM prayer service, at the funeral home.