Marissa Rolofson

Marissa Alexandra Amilde King Ruhtenberg Rolofson, born July 5 1936, to A.G. Jan Rughtenberg and Polly King Ruhtenberg, who are deceased, at Villa Raggio, NJ. She later moved to Colorado with her family when she was five years old. She married Robert G. Rolofson DVM, deceased, on July 14, 1956. Marissa is survived by her three children. Sons Mark and Tom Rolofson; daughter Robin (Lee) Evanoika; granddaughters Shelby and Ashley Evanoika.

She was an accomplished equestrian who qualified her horse Prairie Brush (aka Buckbrush or Bucky) to the USA Olympic Three Day Eventing team in 1958 while pregnant with her first child. Women were not yet allowed to ride in the Three Day Event in the Olympics, and for the 1964 Olympics she qualified a horse of Col. R.L Robertson. Marissa continued showing hunters and jumpers until her older two children, Mark Rolofson and Robin Evanoika, took over the showing. Marissa and her husband raised thoroughbreds and warmblood show horses as well as polo ponies. She was a registered judge with the AHSA, now known as the US Equestrian Federation. She was a course designer, sat on boards for the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association, AHSA zone eight board, and Colorado Veterinary Medical Association spouses auxiliary board. Marissa also spent countless hours working at Rolofson Animal Clinic alongside her husband. She was an avid crafter doing ceramics, needlework, mosaics, painting, decoupage, sewing, and many other crafts. She also enjoyed singing in her church choirs, attending and teaching Bible studies, and always tried to live by the light of the ideals she aspired to. Marissa was loved by her spouse, children, family, friends, and the many dogs, cats and horses she encountered over the years. Her spirit of kindness and generosity profoundly touched every person and creature in her life, from those closest to her to the smallest squirrels and songbirds eating from the feeders in her yard.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Front Range Equine Rescue PO Box 458, Ocala, FL 34478

https://www.frontrangeequinerescue.org/ways-to-give/