Christensen, Clarice E. (1924 – 2013)

CHRISTENSEN, PETERSON, HANSEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 1/1/2014 at 13:14:56

Name of deceased: Clarice Elizabeth Christensen

Aged: 81 yrs, 1 mo, 17 days

Residence: Solvang, CA

Born: July 27, 1924, Harlan, IA

Died: Sep. 13, 2013, Solvang, CA

Funeral services: Graveside: Tuesday, Sep. 24, 2013 at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, IA; Pastor Steven Chellew officiated

Survived by: Brother, Virgil (spouse, Joyce) Christensen of Harlan, IA; niece, Lisa Hansen of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Jorgen and Ollie (nee Peterson) Christensen; brother, Lloyd

Education: attended Douglas No. 9 country school and graduated from Harlan (IA) High School, Class of 1941; she then attended Peru State Teachers College in Peru, NE. She later continued her education part-time at the University of Southern California where she eventually earned her degree.

Religious affiliation: no information provided

Military service: n/a

Marriage: no information provided

Employment: Her first teaching job was in a 1-room schoolhouse teaching 11 students ranging from Grades 1 through 8; for 10 years she taught at Center No. 8 in Tennant, Rabbit Hollow, and Kirkman schools. She then moved to California and spent 40 years teaching fourth, fifth, and sixth grades at Marengo School in South Pasadena, CA. Clarice received many awards from different organizations, including being honored as “Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year” for the 1991-1992 school year. She was known throughout the teaching community for her inventive ideas and developing learning systems that allowed her students to have fun while studying and learning new things.

Hobbies/Interests: She was cited for reviving the traditional Maypole dance focusing on her Danish heritage and was thrilled to be part of the Danish Folk Dancing at the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. During her summers off, she loved to travel, going as far north as the Cape in Norway and Point Barrow, AK to Peru in South America. After her retirement, Clarice designed her dream home and moved to Pioneer, CA, away from the city life. She enjoyed participating in quilting groups. She moved to Solvang, CA to an active retirement community and enjoyed exercise classes, games, picnics and outings. She stayed busy volunteering at the local museum and traveling to visit friends and family.

Sources: pauleyjones.com