Ralph Waldo Rasmussen was born May 3, 1917, in Declo, Idaho to Jens Edward Rasmussen and Sarah Jane Darrington.  His parents originally lived in Elba, Idaho where their first child, Joel Edward was born.  They moved to Declo, Idaho, where Floyd Hans, Ralph Waldo, and Elmo were born.  When Ralph was about three, his family moved back to Elba where the twins, Roberta and Robert joined them.  His family called him Waldo.

    Ralph was blessed by his father on June 3, 1917.  He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 7, 1925, by William Andrews.  He was confirmed by his father that same day.  Ralph received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained a Deacon by Elihu Beecher on May 5, 1929.  On June 5, 1932, Ralph’s father ordained him a Teacher.  On July 1, 1934, Edward Darrington ordained him a Priest.  Ralph received the Melchizedek Priesthood and was ordained an Elder by his father, Jens Edward Rasmussen on August 25, 1940 at the age of 23.

    Ralph enlisted in the Army for one year in November 1940.  He left for Fort Ord, California on January 21, 1941.  On December 7, 1941, Ralph was still at Fort Ord having almost completed his military obligation. He attended a show put on for the soldiers by some Hollywood entertainers including Jack Benny and Judy Garland.  He was notified that the Japanese had just bombed Pearl Harbor and he was assigned to protect the Golden Gate Bridge just north of San Francisco.  With the US now involved in World War II, Ralph decided to apply for Officer Candidate School.  He attended school in Ft. Benning, Georgia where he graduated three months later as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army.  He served a tour of duty in India where he trained Chinese troops.

    After returning from India, Ralph courted Mary Ellen Ward who lived in Almo, Idaho.  Mary Ellen accepted his marriage proposal.  They married in Santa Barbara, California on February 23, 1945.  They were later sealed in the Logan LDS Temple on June 12, 1946.  Ralph’s military career kept his family moving around the country.  Each of their children were born in different states: Ralph, Jr., Brigham City, Utah; Greg,  Anchorage, Alaska; Nancy Ellen, Richmond, Virginia; Ed, Portland, Oregon; Ward, Nurnberg, Germany; and Mary Jane, Burley, Idaho.

    Ralph retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving 20 years.  Ralph began his second career working for JR Simplot as a credit manager in the fertilizer division.

    Ralph loved his family and loved the Lord.  He was ordained a High Priest by John A. Widtsoe on May 21, 1950.  After retiring from the military and settling in Burley, Idaho, Ralph was made Bishop of the Burley 1st Ward on June 30, 1963.  He also served in the High Council of the Burley, Idaho Stake.

    After retiring from Simplot, Ralph and Mary Ellen served an LDS Mission at the Oakland Temple visitors center.  

    Ralph died on May 10, 2004, in Burley Idaho.  He was buried in the Elba, Idaho Grandview cemetary.

    To read Ralph’s partially completed autobiography and the view photos and other information about him and his family, click here.