Karen Leigh Rasmussen

RUPERT – Karen Leigh Hayes Perkins Rasmussen (80) found eternal comfort joining many of her beloved family and our Heavenly Father on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, in Preston, Idaho. She was born in Montpelier, Idaho, on February 15, 1942, the first of five daughters to Loran A Hayes and Edna Hope Johnson Hayes. She was later joined by four sisters, Nola Rae, Karyl Dene, Diane, and Lorri Kaye.

She grew up in Georgetown, where she enjoyed the friendship and companionship of friends and family. She attended elementary school in Georgetown and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1960.

Karen married VanNess Earley Perkins in February of 1960, to this union came five children, Eric VanNess, Jean Leigh, Gayle, Cathryn, and Keith Ivan. They were divorced in 1979.

Karen moved to Twin Falls and later met Dale W Rasmussen, they were married on August 30, 1984, in Idaho Falls. They moved to Burley and later to Rupert. They combined two families with Dale’s children, Tom and Karla. Dale and Karen were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on November 15, 1990.

She held many church callings throughout her life, including counselors in the Primary, Young Women, Relief Society, and Sunday School. Dale and Karen held many church callings together, all of which they enjoyed, especially in the Burley Family History Center, helping patrons search their ancestry.

Dale and Karen always enjoyed working together, as they spent several summers working at Lake Walcott State Park.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Dale; her parents; a grandson, Niels Peter Rasmussen; a daughter, Jean Leigh Perkins; a sister, Lorri Kaye Hayes Muir; and her grandparents.

She is survived by her children, Eric (Barbara) of Preston, Idaho, Tom (Denisa) of Romania, Karla (Michael) Hecker of Elk River, Minnesota, Gayle (Joe) Schaeffer of Burley, Idaho, Cathryn Smith of Idaho Falls, and Keith (Jaime) of Declo, Idaho; her sisters, Nola, Karyl, and Diane; 32 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Karen’s life was spent in the service of her family and Heavenly Father. She was a perfect example of perseverance, faithfulness, love, and grace. She will be missed here on earth, but her testimony of eternal families will live on in her posterity.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Rupert 3rd Ward, located at 526 South F St., in Rupert. Burial will follow at Gem Memorial Gardens, in Burley.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Monday, November 7, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, preceding the service at the Church.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/A-sJyr2L7KY.