Elva Rasmussen

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   Elva Alberta Rasmussen, the daughter of George and Blanch (Waddell) Brokaw, was born at her parent’s home in Adams County near Corning, Iowa on March 31st, 1925.  In 1936 she moved with her parents to Viola Township in Audubon County.  Elva attended school at Viola Center Consolidated and graduated with the class of 1942.  After graduation she worked in retail sales at Ben Franklin and Federated stores in Audubon.

   On February 14th, 1947 Elva was united in marriage to Delbert Rasmussen at the United Methodist Church in Audubon.  Two daughters, Nancy Ellen and Eileen Kaye, were born to this union.

   Elva and Delbert (Ras) lived in Harlan the first eight months of married life, and moved to Elk Horn in October of 1947 when Ras became manager of the Elevator.  In 1949, Ras and Elva bought the Elk Café which they owned for seven years.  When they sold the café she became a full-time homemaker.

   Through the years, Elva worked at Elk Horn Brand Eggs and was a custodian of the Shelby County State Bank for 35 years.  She was a volunteer at the Danish Immigrant Museum, and for many years she planted and cared for the flower beds on Main Street.

   Elva and Ras enjoyed traveling. Each summer they attended a reunion of Ras’s Army buddies from World War II, which took them to 48 different states.  They also visited all 99 counties of Iowa, as well as Canada, Mexico, and seven European countries. 

   Elva and Ras were honored as King and Queen of Tivoli Fest in 1994.  Elva was a confirmed member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church.

   On Saturday, May 5, 2018, Elva passed away at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. She was 93 years of age.

   Elva was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert, her daughter Eileen, her parents, her sisters Alice Jacobson and Ruth Lauridsen, her brothers-in-law George Rasmussen, Don Benton, Bill Benton, Roland Lauridsen, and Virgil Jacobson, and sister-in-law Delia Benton.  She is survived by her daughter Nancy and husband Don Jenkins of Atlantic, four grand-children Angie Jenkins and Emily Jenkins (David Fritz) of Des Moines, Amy and Adam Bisenius of Holstein, Alan Jenkins of Elk Horn, Honorary grandson Brandon Krause of Elk Horn, three great-grandsons Brody, Brock, and Brayden Bisenius of Holstein, her sister-in-law Lenore Rasmussen of Guthrie Center, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Reverend Keith Menter, Officiating   Music “How Great Thou Art”     “In The Garden” Congregation “The Lord’s Prayer” Rev. Menter, Vocalist Nancy Watson, Accompanist   Casket Bearers Alan Jenkins     Angie Jenkins     Emily Jenkins Amy Bisenius     Adam Bisenius     Dave Fritz     Brandon Krause