Ruth Rasmussen was an inspiration for many, as she was a pioneer for woman on many councils and boards and fought for the underdog.

Rasmussen, 90, passed away July 18, 2015.

Rasmussen was one of the first women to serve on the Austin City Council, where she was appointed in 1985.

“She had a list of firsts, she was the first woman in a lot of things so I think it helped other women,” her daughter, Marilyn Sucha, said.

Rasmussen was a trailblazer in many ways within the community, including the first woman editor of the Local-9 “The Unionist” in 1977, the first woman appointed to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority in 1982, the first woman appointed to the city council in 1985, the first woman elected council member at large in 1986, and the first woman elected to utility board in 1992. She worked at the Unionist for about 30 years, and upon retirement got more involved with the community.

Rasmussen joined the Coast Guard at age 20 in 1944, something a bit unusual for a woman to do at the time. Longtime friend Bonnie Reitz remembered meeting Rasmussen in 1988 at a Blandin Community Leadership program.

“She was an incredible woman and very much a woman before her time,” Reitz said. “In 1944, to be heading off to serve in the war. She was always that way, kind of leading the way for women.”

Her love for politics and getting involved likely stemmed from her parents, according to Sucha. Rasmussen’s father, a farmer, was involved in community politics and the union, and her mother was also involved in community politics.

“She liked to be involved in the community and the church and the family,” Sucha said. “Just a lot of political stuff early on.”

Sucha remembered her father, Norman, was very proud of his wife. Rasmussen’s late husband was supportive of her activities in the community and on the different boards and councils. With her community involvement, a husband, two grown children — Sucha and Kathryn Rasmussen — and many grandchildren, Rasmussen had her hands full.

“I don’t know when she did all this stuff,” Sucha said with a laughed. “Her list of achievements was amazing, yet we had five little kids and she would stop in and help us with them, and when we stopped in she was always home.”

Sucha said it didn’t seem to bother her mother that she was the only woman on a council or board, but Rasmussen always hoped more women would get involved.

Reitz recalled Rasmussen becoming her mentor over the years, encouraging her to go into politics.

“She was so kind and helpful,” Reitz said. “She showed me the process, encouraged me, helped me learn.”

She remembered Rasmussen as bright, friendly and with a good sense of humor. Reitz hoped people could learn from Rasmussen’s life and take away life lessons.

“Just to learn from someone who was so kind, so giving, so sharing, and really, really wanted to help others and make the world a better place,” Reitz said. “And she got out there and just really accomplished that.”

Rasmussen also served several years on the Mower County Utilities Board. Jerry McCarthy worked with her during those years when he was the utilities general manager.

McCarthy said although it was a new experience to have a woman on the board, it helped change the perspective of the company to look more to what the customer wanted and needed, instead of just the technical aspects. He said as the first woman on the board, Rasmussen wanted to ensure she did a good job to gain respect from her colleagues.

“She brought a totally different perspective to the utilities board, which had been mostly men looking at the technical side of the industry,” McCarthy said. “And Ruth came in with a different perspective and looked at how the utilities interacted with the community, what the customers needed and also what the staff needed.”

McCarthy said Rasmussen never showed fear of things she didn’t understand, but rather would go directly to the source and learn what she needed to know to make a good judgement.

“I think everybody on the board respected her and I think everybody looked for her input on issues,” McCarthy said. “And if she had questions, she was never afraid to come in and find out what was going on so she could make an informed decision.”

Sucha was very proud of her mother, and hoped she was an inspiration to many.

“I do think that other women kind of looked at her and thought, ‘Well if she can do it, maybe I can,’” Sucha said. “I hope that’s how people looked at her.”

Ruth’s activities over the years include

•The United Way

•American Legion SPAM Post

•Mower County Coalition

•Zonta Woman of the Year in 1982

•BPW Woman of the Year in 1985

•League of Women Voters

Christian Ed Center Board

•Toastmasters

•Art and Travel Club

•Mental Health Advisory Board

•Salvation Army Board

•Housing and Redevelopment Authority

•Blandin Program

•Austin City Council

•Austin Utility Board

•DFL County Convention

Planning Commission

•Red Cross Bloodmobile

•Hospital Auxiliary

•Hospice Program

•First United Methodist •Church Boards

•City of Austin Airport

•Light and Water Committees

•Pat Piper’s campaign chair for 18 years

•Went on the 2012 Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

•A member of the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association