CHRISTIANSEN, Lily T. (Merkel) 1914-1999

CHRISTIANSEN, HANSEN, MERKEL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 11/13/2010 at 14:45:24

LILY T. CHRISTIANSEN

GRAFTON - Lily T. Christiansen, 85, formerly of Grafton, died Saturday (Nov. 6, 1999) at Good Shepherd Health Center, Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Rock Creek Lutheran Church, 3269 Foothill Ave., rural Osage, with the Rev. R. Dawson Tornes officiating. Burial will be in Rock Creek Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Champion Funeral Home, 702 State St., Osage.

Lily T. Christiansen was born March 20, 1914, near Carpenter, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Hansen) Merkel.

She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Emmanual Lutheran Church in Grafton.

She attended Carpenter area schools.

She married Broder Christiansen Feb. 10, 1934, in Northwood. They farmed in Mitchell and Worth counties until retirement in 1976. After retirement they continued to live on the farm. Broder died in 1987. In October of 1998, she entered the Manly Care Center, where she lived until September of 1999. She then moved to an apartment in Nora Springs for a short time. In October of 1999, she moved to the Good Shepherd Health Center, Mason City. She enjoyed the outdoors and gardening. She was a member of the Martha Circle at Rock Creek Lutheran Church. She sewed many quilts for Lutheran World Relief. In the 1950s she was a member of the Plymouth Band Mothers.

Survivors include four daughters, Jeannette Borchardt, Nora Springs, Lavonne Cockrum and husband, Gary, of Osage, Marlene Kastler and husband, Carol, Mason City, and Judy Leikness and husband, Roger, Fort Atkinson, Wis.; one son, Dwayne Christiansen and wife, Kathy, Plymouth; one brother, Arthur Merkel of Mason City; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Broder, six brothers, four sisters and one grandchild.

Champion Funeral Home, (515) 732-3706.

[Globe Gazette, Nov. 8, 1999]