Obituaries June 18

A celebration of life is 2-6 p.m. Thursday at the home of Gardnerville resident Al Messer, 67, who died June 13, 2008.

Mr. Messer was born May 9, 1941, in Columbus, Ohio.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and son Tom.

A funeral service is 11 a.m. Saturday for 20-year Gardnerville resident Dale Alfred Rasmusson, 48, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Mahogany Drive in Minden. Mr. Rasmusson died June 13, 2008 in Gardnerville.

Born Oct. 4, 1959, in Oakland, he lived in Antioch, Calif., before moving to South Lake Tahoe, where he lived for 10 years.

He is preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Florence Rasmusson of Antioch, Calif.

He is survived by his wife, Gail; three sons, Eric (Amy), Christopher (Tara) and Dale (Kayte) Stewart; his biological mother Nancy Voorhees of Washington; brothers John, Richard and Troy; sister Debbie; grandchildren Hailee, Bryce, Gage, Cameron, Mallory and Alexa.

A memorial Mass is 11:30 a.m. today at St. Gall Catholic Church for 18-year Gardnerville resident Elizabeth J. "Bettie" Ryan, 82, who died June 12, 2008, at her home.

Born Dec. 22, 1925, in Carnegie, Pa., to Walter A. and Eleanor Kusmeirek France, she grew up in Pennsylvania, where she attended high school and did some modeling. She moved to California at age 18, where she married William Ryan in Los Angeles on July 11, 1947. She worked in a factory to support the war effort.

After moving to Gardnerville, she joined St. Gall Catholic Church and became involved in the women's club.

She was a member of the Red Hat Society and active at the Douglas County Senior Center, where she was selected senior of the year twice.

She was a former member of the Sheridan Volunteer Fire Department board. In her spare time, she loved to quilt, travel and spend time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband William in 1994 and brother Robert.

She is survived by a son, Bill (Wendi) Ryan of Vista, Calif.; daughters Susan Duffy of Irvine, Calif., and Kathy McKinney of Winnemucca and grandchildren Tim, Beth, Grant, Katie, Billy and Mike.

Inurnment will follow the Mass at Mottsville Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are entrusted to Walton's Douglas County Mortuary.