OBITUARY OF FINN ANKER RASMUSSEN
June 21, 1941 – Endeslev, Denmark
July 12, 2021 – Cochrane, Alberta
Finn (Papa) Anker Rasmussen, beloved husband of Kirsten Margrethe Rasmussen (nee Larsen) of
Cochrane, AB, passed away on Monday, July 12, 2021 at the age of 80.
Finn was born in Enderslev, Denmark on June 21, 1941. He joined the Danish army in 1959 as a civil
defence reservist and was stationed in Copenhagen for a year. Finn later married Kirsten Larsen in
1966 in Herfolge, Denmark. In his younger years Finn was an avid fowl and deer hunter and went on
numerous trips with his beloved hunting dogs Rolf and Pow.
Finn graduated from the Karise Business School and later with distinction from Nestved Carpentry
School as a journeyman carpenter. He also achieved the Canadian designation of Red Seal carpenter
further on in his career.
Finn’s vacation to Saskatchewan in 1974 inspired him to immigrate to Canada to start a business and
to raise his family. In 1975 he moved with his wife Kirsten, two boys, Kim and Bo and his German
shorthaired pointer, Pow from Denmark to a small prairie town in Saskatchewan called Redvers. Later
that year, his daughter, Lotte was born. Here, Finn started a successful general contracting
business called Rasmussen Construction building over 60 single family houses, several apartments
and commercial buildings and a large hotel in the area. Finn became a respected and valued member
of the community and was in constant demand working as a European trained carpenter in small town
Saskatchewan along side his two sons.
Finn accomplished much throughout his life and he was particularly proud of the numerous young
carpenter apprentices whom he mentored over his 50-year career. Finn also inspired his grandson,
Wesley, who followed in his footsteps becoming a Red Seal journeyman carpenter receiving the Dean’s
award from SAIT in 2021.
Later in his career, Finn found great joy working as a Construction Superintendent in both
Greenland and the Canadian Arctic spending over 20 years working with Ninety North Construction &
Development Ltd. Finn had a deep appreciation and compassion for the Canadian Inuit people. He was
very much at home working and living with the Inuit where he found many good lasting friendships
while developing a love for Inuit art. Finn could often be found visiting with Inuit carvers who
were working in their back yards and he was also known to bring a bag of groceries or left-over
construction materials to people in need in these communities.
Finn was a master carpenter, innovator and inventor who could often be found tinkering in his
impeccably well-organized carpenter shop thinking of new ways to construct and obtain patents for
his inventions. He also had a talent and passion for working with wood. In his retirement, at the
age of 75, he became an apiarian (beekeeper); he designed and built his own wooden beehives as well
as handcrafted furniture.
Finn loved nature and would often be seen feeding his chickens, the birds and other various local
wildlife. Over the years, he and his family created an oasis of trees with accompanying vegetable
and flower gardens on their beautiful acreage in Grand Valley, Ontario. Finn also possessed a deep
appreciation of music and he particularly enjoyed listening to Merle Haggard, Mahalia Jackson and
Willie Nelson.
Throughout his life, Finn went out of his way to help others in a quiet and humble way never
seeking praise or recognition. He will be most remembered for his generosity, integrity,
professionalism, work ethic, strong sense of family and loyalty.
Besides his loving wife, Finn is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lotte Loveridge (Dave),
of Cochrane, Alberta; two sons and two daughters-in-law, Kim Rasmussen (Lorrie) of Cochrane, and Bo
Rasmussen (Mary Katherine) of Calgary; five grandchildren, Kenya Rasmussen, Wesley Loveridge, Kash
Rasmussen, Keelor Loveridge, Charley Loveridge all of Cochrane; and the beloved family pet dog
Sophie.
Finn is also survived by his two brothers Knud-Arne of Denmark, and Birger (Audrey) of
Saskatchewan; along with his two sisters Merete and Lilli-Ann (Elon) both of Denmark.
Finn was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Johannes; his brother John Henry (Jytte); and his
sisters Birgit (Erik) and Inger in Denmark; and sister-in-law Meta.