Virginia Lee (Banaka) Holland Rasmussen

Virginia L. (Banaka) Holland Rasmussen was born December 7, 1946 to Harold Wayne and Jennie Virginia (Elder) Banaka in Imperial, Nebraska. She entered into eternal life at the age of 72 on February 12, 2019 at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colorado after a short battle with cancer.

She grew up in Northeast Yuma County on the family farm. She was the oldest of three girls. She went to Elementary school a mile from home at the one room Cement School house. She then went to High School in Holyoke, Colorado and graduated with the class of 64.

In 1969, she married Marion Charles Holland and to this union two girls were born, Shawn and Teresa. In July of 79 she lost her husband and moved her family back to Holyoke, Colorado to be closer to her parents.

She worked hard to support her girls, working at Montgomery Ward for several years and then at the hardware hank store both in Holyoke. She helped her parents on the farm when needed also. She loved to attend any of her girl’s activities.

In August of 86 she was re-introduced to her high school crush Wayne Rasmussen at the county fair in Holyoke, she said she had always wished he'd of ask her out. On October 18, 1986, she and Wayne were married. This added 4 more children to the family, Terri, Kathy, Wayne, and Roxanna.

Virginia and Wayne lived out east of Wray on the farm for many years. They raised every animal possible, between sheep, pigs, horses, cattle and lots of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and any other critters they could think of. While Wayne worked for Deschamps and later Monfort, Virginia worked for Engel Meat Packing and took care of the animals on the farm. She enjoyed sewing and Gardening and could literally throw seed on the ground and grow anything. Her love for these and cooking she passed on to her kids and grandkids. They sold the farm and moved to town in 2000.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Jennie Banaka; her father -in-law, Orval Rasmussen; mother-in-law. Ruby Rasmussen- Mccallum, her first husband; Marion Holland; daughter-in­ law; Janet Rasmussen and son-in-law, Brad Sharp.

She is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Wayne Rasmussen of Wray; her children, Shawn Holland and partner, Robin of Centennial, Teresa and Craig Kramer of Holyoke, Terri and Clifford Russell of Wray, Kathy and Eric (Whitey) Anderson of Vernon, Wayne and Kim Rasmussen of Cleveland, OK, Roxanna and Juan Chavez of Sterling. Her sisters; Nancy and Gary Hartman of Henderson, NV and Connie and Richard Murdie of Gunnison, and son-in -law; Sid Lindley of Wray; 19 grandkids; Caitlyn (James), Kelsey(Joe), Cavin(Olivia), Cody, Rodney, Jonathon (Payten), Jose (Elaina), Ashley(Derek), Samantha(Christy), Amanda(Rhett), Tyleler(Kailee), Alexis(David), Janessa(Hunter), Brendon, Paedon, Gage, Landon, Brittney, and Chloe; 11 Great Grands: Abby, Owen, Dante, Nova, Asher, Greyson, Bexley, Alexis, Junior, Bradley, Kynzlee and 3 we've yet to meet and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A Memorial Service was held Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home of Wray, Colorado with Pastor Ben Wentworth officiating, A Private Family lnurnment will be held at Grandview Cemetery, Wray Colorado. Memorials will go to the Hospice of the Plains, P.O. Box 365, Wray, Colorado 80758. Schmidt­ Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.