Verda “June” Rasmussen passed away peacefully in her sleep during the early morning hours of May 14, 2024. June was born on August 10, 1930, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Raymond Gilbert and Verda Farnsworth Jensen. She married Calvin Everett Rasmussen on August 12, 1946, in Richfield, Utah. June and Calvin were sealed in the Manti Utah Temple on Valentines Day of 1958. They were married for 60 years before Calvin passed away in 2006.
June spent her childhood and youth in Salina and Panguitch Utah. As a youth, she was the first waitress in her parents’ business, the Day & Nite Café, in Salina. She worked the midnight shift, watching the sun rise from the back steps of the café and then trying to stay awake in her classes at North Sevier High School during the day. It was exhausting work, but she learned tenacity, tolerance, perseverance and a strong work ethic, skills she carried throughout her life. She had fond memories of her time in Panguitch. She loved her school activities, going to parties and the movies with friends, and especially being able to attend Mutual activities.
June and Calvin spent most of their 60 years of marriage raising their family in Salina, Utah. June worked over the years as a clerk at Selack’s 5 & 10 Store, at the Salina Turkey Plant, arranging flowers for Salina Floral and in the offices of the Sigurd Gypsum Plant. After moving to Salt Lake City in 1969, June worked in the offices for Grand Central. One of her favorite jobs was as a travel agent. She had the opportunity to travel to South America, locations in Europe, and all over the United States, including several times to Hawaii. She most loved traveling with Calvin on this diesel truck after their children were grown.
June loved her garden and her books. She loved family history work and spent most of her adult years researching her ancestors. She felt a deep connection to them as a result. She did ceramics, refinished numerous pieces of furniture, painted pictures, loved making crafts and was a self-taught master seamstress. She sewed items by creating patterns in her head and started embroidering, piecing, tying and quilting quilts when she was 30 years old. She sat at her sewing machine until into her 90s, making self-designed lap quilts. She gifted her little quilts to her doctors, hospitals and other organizations, and as gifts to those she loved. Her posterity were the fortunate recipients of her lovely quilts. She also made beautiful baby burp cloths for the new babies in the family.
June loved people. She found friends wherever she went and could strike up a conversation with anyone. She especially sought out those who seemed lonely. She carried a Book of Mormon wit her as gifts to those who did not enjoy the blessings of the gospel. June was a devoted mother who loved her family dearly. Over the years, June and Calvin’s home was the gathering place for family reunions, weddings, family members’ funeral viewings and holiday parties. They were wonderful hosts welcoming those who came to visit and providing a home a home for family members who needed a place to live.
June was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served many callings over the ears. She, especially, cherished her time serving as a Jordan River Temple ordinance worker. She loved the temple.
June is survived by four children: Calleen (Warren), Cookeville, TN; Royce (Julie), Daybreak, UT; Kim (Karlene), Gilbert, AZ; and Becky (Gary), Orem, UT; as well as 18 grandchildren, and too many great- and great-great grandchildren to count. She is also survived by two sisters; Barbara (Gary), St. George and Sherlene, Rigby, ID; and two brothers, Gene (Daphne), San Antonio, TX and Daniel (Elna Rae), St. George, UT. June was preceded in death by her beloved sweetheart, Calvin.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Broomhead Funeral Home in Riverton. Utah at 1:00pm, with a viewing prior to the services from 12:00- 12:45pm. Interment will be at the Riverton City Cemetery next to her sweetheart. Together again.
