OUR STORY
In 1954, Michael Paul Rask – a 53 year old father of four – had a heart attack. There were no treatments at that time so the family was left to keep watch as his heart weakened.
From his hospital bed, Michael asked each of his children and young family members to place one hand, and then another, in a stack on his barrel chest. When the last hand was placed on top he whispered to them, “Stay together. Take care of each other.”
Just 24 years after his passing, tragedy struck when Michael’s 19 year old grandson and namesake lost his life in a traffic accident. In our grief, we returned to his words of wisdom. Creating the Rask Family Memorial Fund was our way of staying together, taking care of each other, and expanding on his guidance by turning loss into hope for our community.
OUR TEAM
Our volunteer board donates their time to help expand educational opportunities for Oregon youth in need of financial assistance. We couldn't do it without:
Our current Board of Directors
Thomas J. Arenz, Chair
Mike Heffernan
Kayla Aalberg Eklund
Casey Scott
Darin Oreste
Father Jacob Mosbrucker
Angie Fogg
Steve Elorriaga
Our past Board Members
Mary J. Clark (1937-2022)
John Duyn (1952-2014)
Gerald Halvorsen (1938-2002)
Victor C. Hefferin (1923-2019)
Edward Y. Kawasaki
Donald F. Kennedy (1931-1998)
Fred B. McLawhorn (1945-2021)
Ruben J. Menashe (1932-2022)
Sol Menashe (1925-2020)
Thomas L. Selliken (1925-2001)
Edward B. Stanton (1931-2008)
Brian Steffel
Shelley M. Woolworth
George Zenner (1934-2015)
The Rask Family Memorial Fund was founded in 1979 by Lee Rask, Raymond Rask, Richard Rask, Paul Rask, Walter Raab, Kenneth Rask, Mal Joseph, Sr., Gene Rask, Wayne Rask, Linda Rask, Larry Rask, and James “Najeeb” Rask.