Harold “Butch” Rasmussen passed away June 14, 2018, in Lake Mary, Florida.

He was born on Nov. 19, 1938, to Harold and Evelyn (Abegg) Rasmussen in North Platte. He graduated from North Platte High School in 1957 and married Charla Goodwin in 1960. Three sons, Randy, Scott and Mike, were born to that union.

In 1981, Butch married Barbara Greco and was married to her for 18 years.

In 2002, he married Georgia Mahaffie. They had grown up together in the same neighborhood and the same church and schools throughout their first 18 years, but after high school, they were separated for 45 years before finding each other again in 2001.

Butch managed the Cedar Bowl in North Platte from 1958 until becoming sole owner in 1986. During his time as manager, Butch worked with his father, Harold Rasmussen Sr., to strike a deal with a little-known “Kentucky Colonel” named Harland Sanders to sell his special recipe fried chicken at the old Cedar Bowl drive in on Rodeo Road. The colonel was to receive 5 cents royalty for each chicken sold. This all happened before Colonel Sanders became a national icon while franchising his famous recipe chicken.

Butch became president of the family corporation after the death of his father in 1976 and moved the Cedar Bowl from Rodeo Road to South Jeffers Street in 1978. He began a Husker football collection in the lounge soon after. The lounge was renamed the Touchdown Club and expanded in 1997 to become the largest collection of Nebraska Cornhusker sports photos and memorabilia anywhere in the country with the exception of the collection at the University of Nebraska.

Butch was president of the Nebraska Bowling Proprietor’s Association from 1967 to 1969 and continues to be the youngest person to ever serve in that capacity at the age of 29. He organized the western half of Nebraska for the state and national bowling organizations in the late ’50s and served on the Nebraska Bowling Proprietor’s Association State Board of Directors for 31 years.

He served the city of North Platte as campaign chairman for the North Platte United Way in 1970. The campaign made its goal that year for the first time in many years. He also served on the North Platte Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the state board of the Nebraska Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Little King franchisee’s National Advisory Council and served a term as president of that organization.

In 1971, he was named to the national publication of Outstanding Young Men of America. He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Franchise Association in 1987, was elected to the Nebraska State Bowling Hall of Fame in 1986 and to the North Platte Bowling Hall of Fame in 1993. He was recipient of the Cody Scout Award for community service in 1991 presented by Mayor Jim Kirkman and was awarded the key to the city in 1999 by Mayor Jim Whitaker.

After retiring in 1999, Butch enjoyed the creative writing of his bowling column and then his sports column for The North Platte Telegraph. He also wrote articles for Huskers Illustrated magazine for three years.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Evelyn; brother, Robin Rasmussen; first wife, Charla; and grandchildren, Peyton Rasmussen and Parker Rasmussen.

He is survived by his sons Randy (Missy) of Sanford, Florida, Scott of Sanford, Florida, and Mike (Lynn) of Little Rock, Arkansas; six grandchildren, Matt Rasmussen, Josh Rasmussen, Micah Rasmussen, Chase Rasmussen, Sawyer Rasmussen, Gracie Rasmussen; a sister, Kandie (Kathy) Borchman; two brothers, Rocky (Teresa) Rasmussen and Ron (Jake) Rasmussen; many nieces and nephews; his forever stepchildren, Perry (Gail) Greco, Angi (Kirk) McAndrew, Amy Greco and Cammie McNeil; his forever stepgrandchildren, David McAndrew, Ashley (Matt) Perlinger, Taylor Sutton and M.J. McNeil; and three forever step great-grandchildren.

A private service will be at the North Platte cemetery.