The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois
January 7, 1953 - Wednesday, pg 2
 
RICHARD  ROYCE  RASMUSSEN
 
Richard Rasmussen, Tampico, Dies Of Truck Crash Burns
 
Tampico: - Despite the effort made by Hinsdale physicians to save the life of a Tampico youth badly burned in a stock truck accident in which one other died Christmas night, the young man succumbed at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday while still a patent in the Hinsdale Hospital.
 
The death of Richard Royce Rasmussen, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Chris Rasmussen, near Tampico, who suffered severe body burns in the Downers Grove accident, brought New Year sorrow to the Tampico citizens who gave gallons of blood Tuesday in an effort to replace numerous pints given the boy at the hospital.
 
Your Rasmussen was the second to die as the result of the ill-fated Chicago motor trip.  His companion, Terrance Dean Forward, 17, was burned to death in the accident.
 
At the time the youth died Tuesday morning, 61 Tampiso and Deer Grove friends gave a pint of blood each to the Red Cross Bllodmobile in his behalf--not knowing at the time there was no hope. The youth had been given 35 to 40 pints of blood in the fight for his life.
 
The body was removed to the Parent Funeral Home, Tampico, where friends may call.  Services will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Thursday from St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tampico, Rev. A. M. Weitekamp officiating.  Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.
 
He was born May 31, 1933, in Tampico, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Chris Rasnussen. Attending the rural school, he graduated from Tampico High School with the class of 1952.   He was employed at time of death by the Norman Wetzell trucking firm.
 
Surviving are his parents and one sister, Mrs. Clarence Bollivar of Tampico.