Richard Christopher and Iverina Maria Hoem Rasmussen were among the first settlers in Cougar Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene. They came from Cut Bank, Montana where R.C. had a mercantile, part-ownership in a bank and owned a large wheat ranch. He arrived in 1916 seeking new business opportunities and to find a better climate to raise a family. They pulled into the Third Street Station in 1918 with Verna 12, Lewis 8, and Joyce 3. One long time resident remembers seeing them exiting the train wearing gigantic bear coats. R.C. and Iverina established a John Deere equipment and hardware store at Lakeside and Fourth Street and had a harness shop across the street on the east side of Fourth. He was a large stockholder in American Trust Company. They lived at 916 Foster Avenue before moving out to Cougar Bay in the 1920’s.

More children arrived including James, Witso, Clifford, Neal, Fredric and Gretchen. The family was complete with nine children who all attended Coeur d’Alene schools. James, Witso and Clifford returned to Montana in their late teens to work on the wheat ranch and in the surrounding oil fields. Lewis, Clifford, Neal and Fredric entered the army with Fredric losing his life during WW II while serving in the Philippines. Verna, Joyce and Gretchen continued their educations and all became public school teachers. Joyce taught at Winton Elementary.

R.C. and Iverina’s children and their 30 grandchildren enjoyed visiting summers, for water activities, running the logs which were boomed across the bay, swimming, fishing, riding horses, collecting turtles, frogs and toads. On winter visits they enjoyed skating, sledding and ice racing. Iverina was renowned for her baking and everyone relished her breads, potato rolls, pies and cookies.

Two grandchildren, Roger Rasmussen (Neal’s son) and Roberta Larsen (Joyce’s daughter) are pleased to be able to honor their grandparents with inclusion on this Heritage Wall.