Christiansen, Dick (1931-2016)

CHRISTIANSEN, OLDHAM, FRAHM, MCKIBBIN, SATHER, FUNK

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 10/17/2016 at 16:16:18

Dick Christiansen
April 6, 1931 - September 15, 2016

Dick Christiansen, age 85, of Newell, Iowa, died on Thursday, September 15, 2016, at the Newell Good Samaritan Society.

Born to Lorenia (Oldham) and Henry (Hank) Christiansen on April 6, 1931, Dick attended school in Newell and then served two tours of duty in the Navy as a proud member of the SeaBees. Upon returning home, he married Betty Frahm on March 13, 1955. For over fifty years, they farmed together before retiring. This year, they celebrated their sixty-first wedding anniversary. They had three children: Janet (David) Sather, of Sartell, Minnesota, Mike (Lisa) Christiansen, of Newell, Iowa, and Judy (Dean) Funk, of Urbandale, Iowa.

Dick never met a person that he couldn’t draw into a conversation about his hometown, farming, raising turkeys, flying his airplane, woodworking, trapshooting, or his passion for rebuilding antique tractors and engines. Always one to be involved in public service, he served with pride on the Board of Trustees of the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center (formerly the Buena Vista County Hospital) for eighteen years and as chairman for sixteen of those years; on the Buena Vista County Soil Conservation Commission for six years; with the Iowa Turkey Federation for fourteen years where he held several positions including that of Federation President in 1985; as a member of the Iowa Poultry Association for six years and as the Association’s Treasurer and Vice-Chairman; and as a Director on the Citizen’s First National Bank Board for over thirty years, having just retired from that position in December of 2015. In addition, he served as the Mayor of Newell for nine years. A veteran of the Korean Conflict, he had, also, recently participated in the Brushy Creek Honor Flight.

Dick and Betty, along with several other couples, were founding members of the Bethel Baptist Church in 1959. There, he served numerous terms as deacon, trustee, moderator, and treasurer. Dick loved telling people about the gospel and his faith in Jesus Christ.

Along with his wife and children, Dick is survived by his shining stars – his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His grandchildren include: Kate and Megan Christiansen, of Newell, Iowa, Garrett Funk, of Urbandale, Iowa, Nathan (Brooke) Funk, of Elk River, Minnesota, Jill (Matthew) Johnston, of Newell, Iowa, Betsy (Blake) McKibbin, of Houston, Texas, and Nicholas and Christian Sather, of Sartell, Minnesota; and his great-grandchildren: Violett, Jasper, Weston, and Archer Funk, of Elk River, Minnesota, and Louis and Orlynn McKibbin, of Houston, Texas; as well as by many nieces, nephews, and his family-in-love, the entire Kier family.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Lorenia; his parents-in-law, Claus and Anna Frahm; his older brother, Bill; and an infant brother who died at birth; as well as by several brothers- and sisters-in-law.

The entire Christiansen family would like to thank the staff at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center for the care that they provided to him over the past year. They would, also, like to thank the staff at the Newell Good Samaritan Society for their loving support, care, and kind words over the past two weeks.

Funeral services will be held Monday, September 19, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at the Bethel Baptist Church in Newell. Burial will follow in the Newell Cemetery with full military rites by the Newell American Legion. Visitation will take place Sunday, September 18, 2016, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Bethel Baptist Church in Newell. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements.

Copyright © 2016, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes

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