Before retiring in 1984, Frederik Rasmussen ’42 spent 38 years employed by Kraft Foods. Frederik and Ruth were married for 61 years and enjoyed 20 years of retirement together, with hobbies, vacations, travel, swimming, watching football and even making the trip every year since 1967 to see the football team play. This was the first year they missed that due to Frederik’s illness. He had never been sick a day in his life until this past year. On their last anniversary Frederik wrote a letter to Ruth saying, “I’d do it all again.”
When Ruth was asked what kind of man her husband was, she said, “Frederik had a very productive life and he was a happy man, very patient and an amazingly strong man. He was a wonderful husband and father.” He passed away on September 15, 2004.
Ruth, likewise a 1942 Penn State graduate, majored in history and later taught secondary education. It has been a tough road for Ruth, now that she’s alone. She takes one day at a time.
She says their favorite thing to do together throughout the decades was to keep up and get together with the brothers of Alpha Zeta.
Who are some of the brothers you and your husband remained in contact with?
Earl Johnson ’42 was one. In fact, two of Earl’s sons graduated from Penn State. Also Keen Campbell ’42, who was a former president of the fraternity, and John Philips ’42. I wrote to them when they were in the service; it was wartime you know. Frederik was a lieutenant JG on an LST in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters for the Navy.
Please tell us about your family.
We had three children, all sons – Erik, Kirk (deceased) and Frederik Mark. We also have three grandchildren. One of our granddaughters is 15 and in Denver, Colorado. Two grandchildren are in this area, a 10-year-old grandson and a 7-year-old granddaughter.
What did Frederik do for a living?
When he graduated he went to work for the Department of Agriculture in the Processed Food Inspection Division. Shortly after that he went into the military, and when he returned he went to work for Kraft and worked there for 38 years in the Sealtest Division. For the last 18 years of employment he was vice president and director of Kraft Foods Dairy Group.
What else would you like us to know about your husband?
He was a very kind man. He had a great sense of humor, and I hear that all the time from people.
What are your future goals?
I have to try to make it through each day. We did everything together for the last 20 years. We were so much a part of each other’s lives.
What are your hobbies?
We liked to travel and play bridge. We spent a lot of time with his extended family.
What advice do you think your husband would give to the current members of the undergraduate chapter?
I think he’d tell them to hang in there the best they can. It’s a tough time of life.
Anyone interested in contacting Ruth may call her at home in Moorestown, New Jersey, at 856-234-2614.