Marilyn Parry Rasmussen

Marilyn Parry Rasmussen was born March 31, 1930, and passed away October 30, 2021, surrounded by her children.  She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Helen Clair Daynes and Chauncey Gardner Parry.  Marilyn was the great granddaughter of Wilford Woodruff and had a deep respect for her ancestors.   As a child, she was cast in several movies always riding horses.  She lived in Cedar City, Utah and in Kanab where her father built the Parry Lodge.  She explored the canyons of Southern Utah with her father.  She also had a love for animals – especially horses and dogs and loved to ski the beautiful mountains of Utah.   She was an avid reader and loved histories and good mysteries.  Most of all she studied her scriptures and regularly took classes to learn all she could, even in her most elderly years.  She was interested in world events up until the end of her life and had strong opinions and feelings about current events.

Marilyn was heartbroken at age 12 when her father was killed in a car accident.  She attended the University of Utah where she met Blaine Rasmussen.  They were sealed by Apostle David O. McKay in the Salt Lake Temple.  She and Blaine raised five precious children- Jeffery (Beverly), Julie (Steve), Merry Jane (John), David (Tatsiana), and John Parry.  They and their five children lived in every corner of the country providing the family with a rich cultural experience.  After their children were raised, they served a Cambodian stake mission, a humanitarian mission in Minsk, Belarus and Russia, then later in Tampa, Florida.  She and Blaine built a cabin for the family in the high Uintas where she loved the music of the river and the whispering of the pines.  Our extended family has had such fun there.  Marilyn traveled with Blaine, who served with U.S. Aid in Istanbul Turkey, Sumatra, and Jakarta, Indonesia, and Barbados.   She taught early morning seminary four years, was Relief Society President twice, and never wavered in her testimony of the Savior.  She also enjoyed her volunteer work at the Contra Costa County Crisis Help Line as well as Lakeview Hospital.

Marilyn and Blaine are survived by their five children, twenty-two grandchildren, and forty-five great grandchildren.

We, as her children, are overjoyed that she is now with the Savior, her loving family and the many friends that she has missed so much.  She has her beautiful, strong spirit, and quick mind to enjoy the rest of eternity with.  No more doctors’ visits, no more canes, no more pills!  She will undoubtedly continue to be an integral part of our lives, influence us for good, and encourage us to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are grateful we had a mother that spent her life loving and serving us and the Savior, making delicious, homemade meals, developing our talents, and making college and missions a reality.   She was true and faithful to her husband, her faith, and temple covenants.  From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you and will miss you until we meet again.  (A special thanks to Karli from Atlas Hospice, who went above and beyond to make Marilyn’s last days so comfortable.)

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at the Moss Hill Chapel, 455 South 1200 East, Bountiful, Utah where a viewing will be held that morning from 8:45-9:45 a.m. prior to services.  Interment – Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.