Marilyn Sheryl (Rasmussen) Rawson

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Marilyn Sheryl Rasmussen Rawson (80) passed away on February 12, 2025 after a brave struggle with cancer and heart disease. She was born in Salt Lake City on November 26, 1944. She was the second child born to Victor and Velda Rasmussen giving them two daughters. When she was three, her family moved to the family farm in Clarkston, Utah where the family was blessed with a younger brother, Phil. Marilyn spent the rest of her childhood there in what she felt was a loving home and close knit community. Books, family and faith were the values instilled in her early years. Her mother was the only nurse in their small community that was often snowbound and Marilyn knew at an early age that she too wanted to be a nurse. She graduated from North Cache High School in 1963 where she was student director for several musical productions, the editor of the yearbook, and assistant editor of the school newspaper. She attended University of Utah, majoring in nursing, on an exemplary student scholarship that paid her full tuition, books and $100 each quarter, a huge amount in those days. In her third and fourth years at the “U” she received an additional scholarship to focus her studies in psychiatric nursing. She graduated from University of Utah’s School of Nursing in the College of Medicine in 1967 as the singular valedictorian with highest honors. She received a Master of Science degree in psychiatric nursing at the University of Arizona a few years later. She worked as a psychiatric nurse in several Veterans Administration hospitals in the Western United States until she retired. 

During her career, Marilyn was a caring and compassionate nurse and went the extra mile to treat her patients with dignity and love. Many of her holidays were interrupted by telephone calls from patients struggling with suicidal thoughts. She always took time to listen and try to help them. Many years later when she was retired and a resident herself at an assisted-care center she served as the Resident Council’s chair and ever vigilant ombudsperson in Salt Lake City, continuing to care for those who could no longer speak for themselves.

She married Charles Rawson on January 20, 1968 but he died in a tragic accident six months later, to the day. Some years later, she was married, briefly, to Leon Hillyard but was subsequently divorced. However, she loved her stepchildren and always treated them as her own. She was always closely involved with all her Rasmussen nieces and nephews and their children as the years went on. She chose a different Christmas ornament for each child as they joined the family. She would shop all year long to find a new ornament for every child to add to their collection. She had a marvelous sense of humor and shared jokes and riddles with everyone she knew. Likewise her nieces and nephews would collect jokes until the next visit or phone call with Marilyn. Her birthday and Christmas gifts always arrived--uniquely wrapped in comic papers.

Marilyn spent most of her life as a widow and enjoyed travelling the world with her cousin, Carolyn. She loved her association with all her Petersen and Rasmussen cousins. She passed on her love of books by serving as a reading aid at nearby elementary schools.

Marilyn was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and especially loved her years as a part-time Seminary teacher. She was a voracious reader and dearly loved the classics, the scriptures, Church history and doctrine, and historical novels.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Victor Philip Rasmussen and Mary Velda Petersen Rasmussen; her husbands, Charles Rawson & Leon Hillyard; her sister, Rebecca Sue Rasmussen Peterson, and her brother-in-law, Davis Peterson.

She is survived by her brother, V. Philip (Linda) Rasmussen; plus a wide circle of cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

The family wishes to thank caring personnel at Saint Marks Hospital in Salt Lake City; Aegis Hospice; and the Maple Springs (North Logan) Skilled-Nursing facility for their competent and compassionate care.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:30 pm on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the Berry Hollow Ward building located at 480 N 100 W in Hyde Park, UT. A viewing will be held where friends may visit with the family immediately preceding the funeral, at the Berry Hollow Ward building, from 10:30 am to 12 noon on February 22nd. Following the funeral, the dedication of the grave and interment will take place at the Clarkston (Utah) Cemetery. 

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Nelson Funeral Home in Logan, UT. A full obituary is available at http://nelsonfuneralhome.com. The services will be live-streamed @ nelsonofuneralhome.com.