Rayford Dell Rassmussen, age 77, left this world on January 27, 2024 at his home in Spokane, Washington,  According to Brenda, his wife, it was sudden and Dell did not suffer. 

Dell was born in Odessa, November 27, 1946. He was born to the union of Orien Smith and Tilford William Rassmussen.  He had a younger sister, Karla Jo, who born in 1950.  Dell's father worked in the North Cowden Field for Amoco, his mother was the secretary for the town of Goldsmith.  Dell attended Goldsmith Elementary, Crocket Junior High and Odessa High.  At Odessa High, he was on the swimming team and was in the Industrial Cooperative program.  He graduated in 1965, joined the Navy Reserves and did his training before returning to Odessa to accept employment at the Phllip's Refinery in Goldsmith and he attended classes at Odessa College.  He married Kathryn McCracken in Odessa and they had two sons, Brian and Scott. 

During the Pueblo incident off shore from North Korea, Dell was called to active duty with the Navy and he served two tours in Vietnam.  He served out his last 18 months of the two year requirement for active duty and returned to Odessa. Since he had done the two years, he was placed on stand by reserves status and then discharged in 1971.  He went to work at Trainor Equipment, in the part's department and then worked his way up to sales.  He and Kathryn divorced and he married Brenda Bailey of Odessa in 1979.   

A son Cori was born to this marriage.  His son, Brian was killed in a motor cycle accident in Odessa in 1998. 

Dell's passion was flying and he obtained his pilot's license and he flew for Federal Express, based in San Angelo and Lubbock.  After a minor stroke, he was unable to fly and he returned to sales with West Texas Catapillar, which became Warren Cat.. He then joined Odessa Engines,  He retired in 2014.  

Cori went to medical school at Texas Tech and after he graduated, he did his intership in radiology at a hospital at Michigan State University and then an advanced intership in nuclear radiology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.  Dell and Brenda moved to Michigan and then to North Carolina so Brenda could help with their grandchildren.  

In July 2024, Dell and Brenda moved to Spokane, Washinton to be near their son, Cori as he had taken a job at a hospital there. 

A memorial service was held in Odessa on January 31, 2024 at the Crescent Baptist Church.