Brenna Adele Rasmussen was born January 6, 1970, and passed away March 2, 2023, after a short illness, surrounded with profound love from her loved ones.

Brenna was born to Patricia Darlene Schnieder and Gerald E. Schneider in Boston, Massachusetts, their second child. She lived in Concord, MA until she moved to Dallas, TX at age 11, where she lived with her mother. She met and married her first husband, Bob Thomas, and they had two children, Christina and Paul. Brenna had a sharp intellect and attended college in Dallas, becoming a respiratory therapist.

In 2007, Brenna moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, and married Michael Rasmussen on August 4, 2007. She later became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was loved and accepted by the members of her ward.

Brenna was loved by her family, friends, and coworkers. She will be missed by all who knew her. She had a beautiful soul, loved her children, her nieces and their children, her dog Teebo, and adored owls. She loved and cared for the afflicted and the innocent, the very old and the very young.

Brenna is survived by her father, Gerald E. Schneider of Somerville, MA; her children, Christina Thomas and Paul Thomas of Dallas, TX; her grandson Corey Thomas of Dallas, TX; her sister Cybele Smith of Idaho Falls, ID; brother Aniket Schneider and sister Nimisha Schneider, and her husband, Michael Rasmussen of Idaho Falls, ID. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, and her mother, Darlene Schneider (Hunt).

It was Brenna's wish to be cremated and her ashes scattered where her mothers are, on the banks of the Yankee fork of the Salmon River near Challis, Idaho. Cremation is under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls.

Brenna's Life Sketch

Born to Patricia Darlene Schneider (nee Hunt) and Gerald Edward Schneider in Boston, MA, she was a healthy and robust baby (close to 9 pounds!). She joined an older sister, Cybele.

The family soon moved to Concord, MA. After her parents divorced in 1973, Brenna stayed in Concord with her mother. She continued visiting her father on weekends until she was 11 when she moved to Dallas, TX with her mother. Her father always kept in touch with his two daughters, visiting them whenever he could.

While in Texas, she met and married her high school sweetheart Bob Thomas and they were blessed with two children, a daughter, Christina Marie, and a son, Paul Robert. One of their common interests was music. Bob had a rock band and she was known to join him on stage and sing from time to time. As happens often with young love, they divorced a short while later and remained amicable.

After the birth of her children, Brenna was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, an autoimmune disease. Her struggle with this disease would prove to be an immense challenge for her. While living in Dallas, Brenna became very hyperglycemic and was hospitalized in severe medical distress. When he became aware of her condition, her father flew in from Boston to be with her. He spoke to her while she was in a near-unconscious state, whispering in her ear that her Papa was there and that he loved her. This whisper was like a breath of life, and her condition improved almost immediately.

Brenna was exceptionally intelligent, as evidenced by her deep respect for the great philosopher poets, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Weird Al Yankovic. Her ability to absorb and recall complex information in an instant has been universally deemed both a blessing and a curse. Walk into a doctor's office with her, and you would walk out with more knowledge about your condition than you ever wanted to know. Argue with her on the wrong side of an issue, and you'd walk away with more humility than you ever wanted to have.

She moved to Idaho Falls to help her oldest niece, Cathy, prepare for her wedding. While in Idaho Falls, she fell in love with and married Mike Rasmussen, who was supporting her three nieces. Their wedding at Mike's childhood home on August 4, 2007, brought family from all across the country to witness their vows – to have and to hold, in sickness and in health. Both firecrackers, Mike and Brenna stayed married for 15 years, sparks flying in all directions through better and worse.

That same year Brenna's niece Amanda gave birth to her first child, Shawn. Brenna became his main babysitter, helping out while his parents worked, but they spent lots of time together outside of that. They were two peas in a pod, and she was his best friend. They played and laughed constantly. She also was instrumental in teaching him to read – their favorite books were by Dr. Seuss. One night, Mike heard Brenna reciting one of their favorite passages in her sleep: Will Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo. She had a huge soft spot for children, and loved breaking the rules a little- Shawn was very excited to tell his mom that he'd had his first sip of coffee with Brenna. It was clear to all that she cherished him and their time together.

Throughout her life, she never lost sight of humanity's most significant achievements – Music and Film. Her cousin Joe related this experience to Christina and Paul:

[ In July 1985, I was watching this, "Live Aid," concert on our grandmother's giant 20" color TV. I was waiting for Michael Jackson, convinced he would make an unscheduled appearance. I really did not care about the other performers, preferring to read and play with toys (I was 8 at the time). When the band, Queen, was announced, Brenna walked over, jacked up the volume, sat right next to me, held my hand, and insisted I put away the distractions and pay attention. I will never forget that moment. To this day, I blast that Queen set to time a 20-minute workout and remember the way she sat with me.

Brenna was headstrong, determined, and compelling, with an eternal perspective on film. One summer, she accompanied Mike on a cross-country truck route. She was lying in the bunk while Mike was driving through some of the most impressive landscapes. He urged her to come up and see the amazing view. "Can't do that, Mike, I'm watching this movie!" With nature, she preferred immersion -- like exploring caves and taking walks – bringing her camera along to capture her unique view. She particularly loved watching the sky – taking many photos of clouds, rainbows, and shifting light. She was an artist in her own right- a gardener and a painter, taking after her grandmother Vera with whom she was very close, and was a poet in private.

Brenna was deeply compassionate with a drive to protect the vulnerable, the weak, and the innocent. Her heart could not be confined within her chest – she had to share it with others. She became close to her patients while working as a respiratory therapist. One young man she treated for months expressed his deep appreciation for her friendship and devotion to his care in a card that she treasured for years afterward.

She helped care for Christina and Paul's paternal grandfather, Nick, while he was undergoing radiation therapy, driving him to and from the VA hospital for his care. Though it pained her to watch him go through this process, she remained committed to his well-being and became very close to him.

Brenna also helped care for her own aging grandmother, Vera, in Dallas for a few years until she married Mike. She later returned to assist with care at the end of her grandmother's life and stayed until she passed away. During this time, she and her son, Paul, convinced Mike to forego a route to the Carolinas based on signs of a heart condition doctors had mistaken for a case of pneumonia. Her determination led Mike to the hospital, where doctors finally discovered a serious heart condition.

She eventually moved her mother into her home with Mike, where she cared for Darlene until her passing. This was an incredibly healing experience for both, with nothing left unresolved between them.

In October 2017, Brenna experienced her first epileptic episode while Mike was on the road. The first day she experienced more than 20 seizures. Her niece Bethany came flying to the rescue, taking her to the emergency room and documenting the frequency and length of her seizures. Mike arrived home the next day and took her back to the ER for an EEG, and she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Two weeks later she had a seizure storm, resulting in hundreds of seizures in the hospital over 3 days. Brenna coded at least once during that time. When the medications finally took hold and the seizures ended, the tangle of electrodes and wires were removed from her head and her face lit up with the most amazing smile – pure joy, happy to be alive – absolute elation! Though it was a bumpy road, Brenna rose to the challenge, gaining control over the terrible disease.

During one of her times in Dallas, her long-time friend Steve Cox got her a feisty little puppy – a rat terrier/chihuahua mix. Brenna didn't think she could take care of him, but he was an orphan and as she nursed him along, they became fast friends. Steve compared him to Tim Tebow – in that the quarterback thought he was a football player, and this noisy critter thought he was a big dog. All rat terrier in looks, but all chihuahua in attitude – he would announce to the entire neighborhood he was there and to stay away from his momma! He received many nicknames from Mike – Teebolini, Teeb-holio… but Teebz was her favorite. He provided her with comfort, cuddles, and companionship – caring for him helped her through many tumultuous times.

Brenna was focused on helping others but struggled with accepting reciprocation when she was in need. Over the last six months, she faced increasing hardships with her health – both mental and physical. On February 21, 2023, she was admitted to the hospital, where she experienced a host of complications that, combined with her comorbid conditions, were too much for her physical body to overcome. Surrounded by her children and her husband, Brenna passed from this mortal life and into eternal peace on March 2, 2023.

This life sketch, only snapshots in time, does no justice to her short but full life – shades of grey splashed with bright strokes of brilliant color. Brenna's radiant smile shines in the photos throughout her life, but it cannot convey everything we'll miss – her rebellious and curious spirit, her inspiring intensity and infectious laugh, and her enormous heart that always overflowed with love for her family, friends, and Heavenly Father.

"We shall not cease from exploration,

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time."