Margaret Louise Rasmussen; Principal

Margaret Louise Rasmussen, longtime principal of Faith Baptist School in Canoga Park, has died at her West Hills home. She was 59.

Mrs. Rasmussen died Sunday of cancer, said Jeff Brown, the school’s athletic director.

Born in Chicago, Mrs. Rasmussen graduated from Verdugo Hills High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University, a Christian institution in Greenville, S.C., and later earned a master’s degree in education from Cal State Long Beach.

Her husband, Roland, became pastor of Faith Baptist Church in 1960, and three years later the couple founded a religious school at the church, beginning with 86 students from kindergarten through third grade. She continued to serve as principal of the school, which now has 1,300 students ranging from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, until the time of her death.

Mrs. Rasmussen is survived by her husband of 38 years; sons Mark Rasmussen and Tim Rasmussen of Powell, Tenn., John Rasmussen of Canoga Park, Paul Rasmussen of Woodland Hills, Roland Rasmussen Jr. of Pensacola, Fla., and Peter Rasmussen of El Cajon, Calif.; daughter Anna Rasmussen of West Hills; brother David Wilkerson of Oregon; sister Barbara Campbell of Iowa, and four grandchildren.

Visitation is planned from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. today at Pierce Brothers-Praiswater Mortuary, 7245 Remmet Ave., Canoga Park, which is handling the arrangements.

A funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Faith Baptist Church, 7644 Farralone Ave. in Canoga Park.

Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth.