Sidney Otto Rasmussen

Sidney “Sid” Otto Rasmussen, 93, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at his home with his family and Pastor Chris Eldredge by his side.

Sid was born January 10, 1924, in Maplewood Township to Arthur and Ida (née Tollefson) Rasmussen. He was baptized at Maplewood Lutheran Church and confirmed in Bagstevold Lutheran Church in Erhard. Sid attended rural school 156S in Maplewood and District 16 in Elizabeth Township. In 1941, the Rasmussen family bought a farm in Carlisle Township where they joined Hedemarken Lutheran Church.

On July 18, 1948, he married Clarice Rian at Hedemarken Lutheran Church with Reverend Salveson officiating. The newlyweds bought a farm in Wilkin County and lived there for 51 years. During that time, they had three children; Cynthia, Teresa, and Blaine. In 1999, Sid and Clarice “traded farms” with son Blaine, and moved back to Carlisle Township.

Sid was an active member of the community as both a 4-H and Luther League Leader. He also served on the Carlisle Oil Board and the Hedemarken Church Council for many years.

He was a member of the Elizabeth Sportsmen and Horseshoe Club and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping. He particularly enjoyed hunting deer by Northome and hunting pheasants and ducks with good friends. He was an avid lover of horses and a lifelong horse trainer. Caring for the local wildlife and the environment were very important to him. In that spirit, Sid planted a 2-acre plot of corn each year and hundreds of trees over his lifetime.

When Sid wasn’t farming or planting trees, he was reading or tinkering with something in his workshop. He was a gifted problem solver and one of his inventions was even featured on RFD TV and in The Farm Journal magazine. Over the years, Sid and Clarice hosted many agricultural interns from as far away as Australia, Scandinavia and Central Europe. They still stay in touch with several of the “kids,” traveling to Australia to visit. Sid loved to travel and took memorable trips to Denmark, Norway, Australia, Aruba, Mexico, and even the Arctic Circle. At home in Minnesota, he enjoyed fishing trips with his cousin, Walter, and later with his children and grandchildren. His special joy was spending time with his family.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Art and Ida Rasmussen; brother, Leo (Selma) Rasmussen; sisters, Irene (Charles) Zimmerman, and Lois Ann (Bud) Hanneman; brother-in-law, Chester Swendsrud; sister-in-law, Rose Rasmusson; and nephews, Jeff Rasmusson, Zane Johnson and Dell Jorgenson.

Sid will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 69 years, Clarice of Fergus Falls; his children, Cynthia Rasmussen Frerichs of Edina, Teresa Rasmussen (Jon Trangsrud) of Orono, and Blaine (Margie) Rasmussen of Rothsay. He will also be missed and loved by his seven grandchildren; Ryder Frerichs, Amanda (Brad) Durow, Cullen Trangsrud, Megan (Preston) Anderson, Morgan Frerichs, Camille Trangsrud, and Tim Rasmussen; his great-grandchild, Grace Durow; his brother, Don Rasmusson; and his sister-in-law, Sally Swendsrud. Sid will be forever remembered by his numerous nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.


Visitation: 5-7 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, and resuming one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11 a.m., Saturday, November 18, 2017, at Hedemarken Lutheran Church, rural Rothsay
Clergy: Reverends Chris Eldredge and Nancy Eldredge Hess
Interment: Hedemarken Cemetery
Arrangements provided by the Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
Online condolences may be sent to www.OlsonFuneralHome.com