Gwendolyn Willa Perry was born June 23, 1934, to Paul and Helen Perry in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She grew up primarily in Torrance, California. It was there she met and fell in love with her first husband, Curt Rasmussen. We know it was love because when she became his wife, she immediately left her California home to move to De Smet, South Dakota. Additional places of residence include Bloomington, Minnesota; Fargo, North Dakota; Farmington, Michigan; Lenexa, Kansas. The California girl was able to return to her home state when Curt retired. They built their final home in Visalia. During these years they raised their family, a son and three daughters. In 1984, at the age of 49, Gwen became a widow. A few years later long-time family friend, Lowell Michels, became a widower. There was no doubt that it was love for a second time, because once again Gwen agreed to leave her California home and move back to the cold country. In February 1989, she became Lowell's wife and moved with him to Apple Valley, Minnesota. Lowell's daughter Adora became a treasured additional daughter for Gwen. Gwen went to heaven on August 24, 2021, with the love of her family and friends surrounding her. Throughout her life many friends and relatives enjoyed meals and warm hospitality in the welcoming atmosphere of her home. Music, specifically piano playing, was a gift she gave to this world. She began to play around age seven and by the time she became a young teen she was the pianist at her father's church services. She continued playing throughout her lifetime at any church she attended. In her later years she blessed many people at Senior Centers with her talent. For her 75th birthday, her family arranged for a CD recording to be made of her playing 20 favorite hymns and songs. It's called Gwen's Golden Gift. She enjoyed sewing and needlework; her family has many treasures as keepsakes. Traveling also delighted her. She would proudly tell you she was born with wings on her feet. She traveled to many foreign countries. The two most noteworthy are Chile, South America, where her sister lives, and American Samoa, where her uncle served as a missionary. Her most frequent and favorite destination was most definitely Yellowstone National Park. She never tired of looking at the Grand Tetons. Her sense of direction was a true gift earning her the nickname "Navigator." No need for a map or GPS if Gwen was your co-pilot. She could tell you the best route, as well as the best places to stop between many destinations. She even remembered the exit numbers! She loved her Lord Jesus and served Him faithfully through her life. This was evident to all who knew her. She is preceded in death by her parents and her first husband. She is survived by her second husband, Lowell Michels of Tulsa, Oklahoma; her sister, Arlene Perry de Hermosilla of Santa Barbara (Bio Bio Province) Chile, South America; her children: Gary (and Marva) Rasmussen of Mason, Ohio; Linda Woods of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Sandy (and Steve) Ballard of Tarpon Springs, Florida; Renee (and John) Gustafson of Little Falls, Minnesota; Adora (and Chris) Davis of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.