We Remember

RASMUSSEN, Anna Kathrine (née Sondergaard)
March 2, 1927 — October 13, 2019
Anna passed away peacefully in Kelowna General Hospital, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Born March 2, 1927 in the small village of Sahl, Jutland, Denmark, Anna was the fourth of five children born to Anton and Johanna Marie Sondergaard. Known by the nickname Tina, our mother often described her childhood as one that was idyllic and filled with love. She excelled in the village school, and then, in a rarity of the time and place, went on to business college, where she studied accounting.
The summer she was 19, she met Niels Rasmussen at a dance in a nearby town, and in May of 1948, they were married in the beautiful village church in Sahl. In 1951, the young couple embarked on what was to be a two year “working honeymoon” to Canada. That two years was to become a lifetime, as they fell in love with the vast Canadian landscape, particularly that of the Canadian Rockies. They settled in Calgary, where they were soon joined by some of their siblings. Within a few years Niels had partnered with his brother-in-law Chris Knudsen to build a thriving construction company, for which Tina provided the accounting expertise. Dania Construction specialized in affordable family homes, and often hired other newcomers to Canada, as Tina and Niels felt it vitally important to share the wonderful opportunities their new country had afforded them.
Oldest son Harry was born in Sept of 1955, Paul two years later, and daughter Lisa completed the family in 1967. In the autumn of 1973, the family moved to Kelowna, where Mom was an active volunteer at her children’s school and in a variety of duties in local Seventh Day Adventist Churches.
Though Mom never enjoyed cooking or baking, her home was one where friends and family were always welcomed. Our parents lived by the motto “the more, the merrier”, and Mom would simply open another box of Kraft Dinner or Wagon Wheels to feed additions to the crowd. Whether guests stayed a few hours or weeks at a time, her generosity of spirit never wavered.
In our family, our one of a kind, feisty, resilient mom was the last of her generation. She was predeceased by husband Niels, and all of her siblings and their spouses. Left to mourn her passing are her children Harry (Valerie), Paul, and Lisa (Randy). She was “Beste” to her beloved grandchildren Serena, Richard (Meghan), Branden (Rylee), Tyler, Cody, Kindree (Michael) and Kira, and the proud “Oma” of great grandchildren Wilson and Madelyn. She also leaves numerous nieces and nephews, both in Canada and Denmark. We love, and will miss her, but cherish our memories of our time together.
Interment will take place Friday, November 1, 2019 at 11:30 am at Kelowna City Cemetery, followed by a Celebration of Life at 1:00 pm at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in her name may do so to the KGH Foundation at www.kghfoundation.com/memorial-tribute-giving.
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Service
Friday, November 1, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Location
Springfield Funeral Home
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Service Details
The service for RASMUSSEN, Anna Kathrine (née Sondergaard) is scheduled for Friday, November 1, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.