Harvey (Arden) Rasmussen passed away on October 7, 2022. He was a resident of Natick, Massachusetts and formerly of Wellesley. Harvey was born in Sidney, Montana on April 22, 1926. He was the son of Chris and Emma (Hendricksen) Rasmussen. Raised on the family farm, he was educated in a one-room schoolhouse until attending Sidney High School, graduating in 1944.
At age 18 Harvey enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. Missoula, a troop transport, in the Pacific during World War II. He was a coxswain (Seaman First Class), piloting a Higgins boat, landing troops on the beaches of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Harvey was awarded the Asiatic Pacific and American Area Campaign medals, the World War II Victory medal, and the Philippine Liberation medal. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, he participated in Operation Magic Carpet returning troops back home.
After being discharged from the Navy in 1946, Harvey attended Arizona State University on the G.I. Bill, graduating with a degree in Engineering in 1951. During his career as a mechanical engineer he worked for Lockheed Aircraft, Raytheon, Laboratory For Electronics, and American Science and Engineering before retiring from Digital Equipment Corporation in 1991. In the 1960’s and 1970’s Harvey worked on the design of guidance and control systems for the Apollo project, and the Apollo Telescope Mount for America’s first orbital space station Skylab.
Harvey married Jeanette Bailey on August 7, 1953. Residing in Wellesley, Massachusetts, they raised two children together.
Harvey enjoyed doing community service projects, boating, and entertaining family and friends at their summer home in East Wakefield, NH during his retirement. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church of the Newtons.
Harvey is preceded in death by his brothers, Curtis and Glenn, and sister Doris Swanson. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jeanette, and their two children Nancy Ziegler, of Oxford, CT and Eric (wife Susan) of Chelmsford, MA as well as many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Harvey’s life will be held at a later date. Donations in Harvey’s memory can be made to the Lutheran Church of the Newtons, 1310 Centre St, Newton Centre, MA 02459 or to a charity of your choosing.