Ellen Rasmussen, 88 of Fairview, MT passed away May 20, 2021 at the Billings Clinic in Billings, MT. She was born March 26, 1933 in Sidney, MT to her parents Einar & Ella Anderson. Ellen was raised in Nohly, MT on the family ranch that her grandfather homesteaded. She attended grade school at Nohly, where she and her sister Viola rode their horses to school and all over the country. Ellen attended Fairview High School, graduating in 1951. She had to ride the Galloping Goose train each week into Fairview. She attended Trinity Nursing School, graduating in 1954. She did her Nursing Clinicals at Cook County Hospital in South Chicago. Ellen returned to Fairview and started work for the Sidney Health Center as an ER nurse & Charge Nurse. Ellen retired from nursing after 25 years.
Ellen met her husband, Jack Rasmussen and they were married in 1955 in Fairview. They were married for 45 years, raising 3 daughters and helping to grow the family ranch, while also working at Sidney Health Center. After her father’s death in 1972, they moved from Sidney to Fairview to her family’s ranch, where she resided until her death. Jack passed away in 2000.
Ellen loved to travel, especially with her best friend Norma. They traveled to many destinations & had many fun adventures they shared together. She took up quilting, which became a passion. She spent countless hours at the church, with her quilting ladies. At last count, she made 62 quilts for family & friends most of them horse themed, as that was her favorite and she could not pass up materials with horses on them.
As her daughters grew and became involved in 4-H and rodeo, Ellen was their biggest fan. She spent most Mother’s Day & other holidays at a rodeo or horse shows. Sunday dinner at grandmas was a weekly occurrence after church with her grandsons Rob & Pete. They loved spending time with grandma after school until they both graduated high school. In the last few years Ellen could be found every Monday morning with Darlene Hurley at the Caring Corner Shop, selling or buying their merchandise. Laughter could be heard coming from the shop; they enjoyed each other’s company very much.
Ellen is survived by her daughters Carol Breuer (Greg) of Fairview, MT, Audrey McRae (Scott) of Coalstrip, MT & Gail Slotsve (Doug) of Billings, MT, grandchildren Peter Breuer (Cheri), Rob Breuer (Heather), JR Slotsve (Leslie), Kendra Slotsve, Brett McRae & Joel McRae.
She is preceded in death by her husband Jack R. Rasmussen, parents Einar & Ella Anderson & sister Viola Burgess.

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