JOI RASMUSSEN

Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Grace Lutheran Church. Interment will be held in North Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday at Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Joi Annette Bangtson, the daughter of Arthur and Doris (Johnson) Bangtson, was born July 20, 1958 in Fort Dodge. She grew up in Manson and graduated Manson High School in 1976. She continued her education at ICCC and Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD earning a bachelor’s degree in Special Education.

Joi, or “Mama Joi”, as she was lovingly nicknamed, worked as a special education teacher in the Fort Dodge Public School System, retiring from Cooper School in 2017. She was the 2011 recipient of the Golden Apple award. She touched many lives in her work career and will be remembered for baking birthday cakes for each of her students and celebrating each Special Olympic event as their own holiday.

She was united in marriage to Robert “Ras” Rasmussen on May 10, 1986. The couple made their home and raised their family in Fort Dodge. She enjoyed being a tennis mom, a margarita and spending time in the pool or on a beach when she could. Her loves in her life included her family, dogs, her students, fellow teachers and diet Pepsi.

Survivors include her husband Ras; her children Jill Rasmussen, of Fort Dodge, Brian (Rebecca) Rasmussen of Charlottesville, VA, and Emily (Tanner) Bowhay of Filley, NE; one granddaughter Sunday Bowhay; her sisters Suzanne Bangtson of Fort Dodge, and Becky (Dick) Thorson of Story City. She was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed towards Almost Home or school supplies/backpacks that will be donated to students in need in the Fort Dodge Community School District.