Z. Ruth Rasmusson, age 79, of Emmons, passed away on Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at the Albert Lea Medical Center in Albert Lea.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 14, at the Emmons Lutheran Church in Emmons, with Rev. Julie Fiske officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Emmons.

Visitation for Ruth will be held on Thursday, May 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills, Iowa, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.

Zennette Ruth (Briselain) Rasmusson was born on May 8, 1925, at Rock Island, Ill. She was raised by parents Walter and Eva Blanch (Condon) Briselain. She attended school at Albert Lea High School at Albert Lea. Following her schooling, and during World War II, Ruth worked for American Gas Company in Albert Lea, and later at an aircraft factory in Minneapolis.

On March 16, 1946, Ruth was united in marriage with Ardell Rasmusson at the pastor’s residence of the Lutheran church in Northwood, Iowa. The couple lived, loved, and raised their family in Emmons. Ruth worked for Deluxe Product Filter Co., now Fleetguard, in Lake Mills for over ten years.

Ruth enjoyed playing cards and reading, but her greatest accomplishment was her family. She was very proud of her 58-year marriage to Ardell; and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the biggest parts of her life. She relished the time spent with them.

Ruth was also a proud member of the Emmons Lutheran Church for 58 years.

Those left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Ardell of Emmons; two daughters: Delores Lenz and her husband Larry of Algona, Iowa, and Dorothy Hegel and her husband Larry of Lake Mills, Iowa; two sons: Dean Rasmusson and his wife Jessie of Albert Lea, and Duane Rasmusson and his wife Joni of St. Cloud, MN; six grandchildren, Amy Petersen and her husband, Mike of Albert Lea, Jennifer Hegel of Lake Mills, Iowa, Andrea Hegel and her fiance Tim Harves of Albert Lea,

John Hegel of Lake Mills, Iowa, Jaclyn Rasmusson of St. Cloud, and Jeffrey Rasmusson of St. Cloud; two great-grandchildren; Quinn and Calvin Petersen, both of Albert Lea; and a host of extended relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister, Vivian Butler.