A welcome visitor

BRADSHAW — Bradshaw residents have got a friend in Sandy Rasmussen. Rasmussen, a former nurse, takes time to visit folks around town who don’t get out much. And her visits are appreciated more than she can ever know.
“I really don’t think I’m anything special,” Rasmussen says. “I stop and see people because I don’t want them to be lonesome or they may need a little help. The women ... I give them a kiss on the cheek, that means a lot to them. If I visit a man and he can’t hear so good I sit as close as I can to him and if there isn’t a chair I just drop right down and sit on the floor. But I’m not special, I’m just a regular person. Wouldn’t you want someone to do that for you? Sometimes all they need is the touch of a hand.
“That’s what people need, just a little help and a visit.”
If someone is having a hard time ... Rasmussen is there. “Sometimes they have just dropped something on the floor and I bend down and pick it up for them. Some people can’t bend over to do their toenails. I can soak their feet and do their toenails,” she exclaims.
Anita Schultz says, “We have so many good people here in Bradshaw. People like Sandy, who stop in to others around town.”
Bradshaw has been home to Sandy and husband Dave for many years. Sandy says what’s nice about a small town is that “you know almost everyone and they know you.”
Caring for others is second nature to Sandy. The former nurse says, “I did get the caring part” in nursing school.
“She was named Bryan’s ‘Most Proficient Bed-side Nurse’ in 1958,” Dave declares. “She got $100. It was a lot of money back in those days. We bought an 8mm movie camera with it.”
Although Sandy has health problems of her own, she suffered a stroke a few years back, the “Most Proficient Bed-side Nurse” of 1958 is still at work. Touching hands and hearts.
“I love nursing. There are a lot of elderly people in town who can use a visit.” Sandy says, “They need a smile.”
Dorothy Jacobberger, Maxine Zeliff and 95 year old Harold Watt enjoy visits from Sandy.
“I bring computer jokes over to Harold. I sit on the floor in front of him. He enjoys a chuckle,” Sandy tells.
When Sandy goes visiting she hops in “Sandy’s Fun Wagon,” her musical golf cart and heads off down the street. Her first stop is the Jacobberger home where she receives a warm welcome. Sandy regularly picks up Jacobberger for senior citizens coffee.
“Oh my,” says Jacobberger, “Sandy and Dave are the sweetest couple there ever was.”
“If you can help someone a little bit that’s what counts,” Sandy tells Jacobberger.
During a visit the women chat. According to Jacobberger, “She is just like my mother was. Most of the time she doesn’t come unless she has something to give you like a joke (Sandy calls them ‘chuckles’) or some vegetables if it’s summer.
“My husband Leo (who passed away 11 years ago) called her a ‘Sweetie Pie.”
It meant a lot to Dorothy when Sandy came to visitation following Leo’s death and brought with her an angel pin for the lapel of his jacket.
“I don’t go to funerals. I would rather spend time with people while they are alive,” Sandy explains. 
Back in the driver’s seat, Sandy heads the golf cart in the direction of Zeliff’s ranch style home. Zeliff says, “Sandy comes a lot. When she knocks on the door you never know what is going to be in her hands. She sticks her head in the door and yells, ‘Anybody home?’ She’s a good gal. She’ll bring a funny joke over” and sometimes coffee cake. Most recently it was grapefruit and onions from Texas.
“Bradshaw is a good little village to live in.” Zeliff says it’s a town where a trip to the post office can last an hour if a person gets to talking.
At each stop along the way Sandy squeezes a hand, gives a hug and shares a chuckle. This spunky little woman is all heart. She’s an example of what makes a town like Bradshaw tick.