Arlene M. Christensen
December 26, 1927 — April 2, 2018
Arlene Mae Christensen, daughter of Chris and Olga (Christianson) Knudsen, was born December 26, 1927 on a farm near Jacksonville, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville and attended country school outside of Jacksonville.
On January10, 1949, Arlene was united in marriage to Valen Christensen at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. After their marriage, Valen and Arlene made their home on a farm near Kirkman, Iowa and later near Defiance, Iowa where they raised their five children: Janet, Steve, Donna, Bruce, and Brian.
Arlene enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting, cross-stitching and was the world’s best apple strip and bread baker. She earned blue ribbons for apple pie at the Shelby County Fair. She worked as a telephone operator and for State Farm Insurance. Arlene was a member of Harlan Cemetery Avenue of Flags Committee serving as the secretary and was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary of Harlan. Arlene was also an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Harlan.
Arlene died on Monday, April 2, 2018 at Elm Crest Retirement Community, attaining the age of ninety years, three months, and seven days. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Valen, sister Gladys Grabill, sister-in-law Marjorie Christensen, and brothers-in-law Homer Christensen, Art Maxwell, Russ Juhl, Gerald Grabill.
She has left to cherish her memory, her children: Janet Hiatt of West Bend, Wisconsin; Steven Christensen and his wife Sandi of Hatton, North Dakota; Donna and her husband Rick Meyers of South Sioux City, Nebraska; Bruce Christensen and his wife Tina of Harlan; Brian Christensen of Vermontville, Michigan; twelve grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; sister Adeline Maxwell of Harlan; sister-in-law Elinor Juhl of Manilla, Iowa; nieces and nephews; special friend Alice Young; other family members and many friends.
On January10, 1949, Arlene was united in marriage to Valen Christensen at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. After their marriage, Valen and Arlene made their home on a farm near Kirkman, Iowa and later near Defiance, Iowa where they raised their five children: Janet, Steve, Donna, Bruce, and Brian.
Arlene enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting, cross-stitching and was the world’s best apple strip and bread baker. She earned blue ribbons for apple pie at the Shelby County Fair. She worked as a telephone operator and for State Farm Insurance. Arlene was a member of Harlan Cemetery Avenue of Flags Committee serving as the secretary and was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary of Harlan. Arlene was also an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Harlan.
Arlene died on Monday, April 2, 2018 at Elm Crest Retirement Community, attaining the age of ninety years, three months, and seven days. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Valen, sister Gladys Grabill, sister-in-law Marjorie Christensen, and brothers-in-law Homer Christensen, Art Maxwell, Russ Juhl, Gerald Grabill.
She has left to cherish her memory, her children: Janet Hiatt of West Bend, Wisconsin; Steven Christensen and his wife Sandi of Hatton, North Dakota; Donna and her husband Rick Meyers of South Sioux City, Nebraska; Bruce Christensen and his wife Tina of Harlan; Brian Christensen of Vermontville, Michigan; twelve grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; sister Adeline Maxwell of Harlan; sister-in-law Elinor Juhl of Manilla, Iowa; nieces and nephews; special friend Alice Young; other family members and many friends.
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