Vernon Leroy Christianson (1921-1947)

CHRISTIANSON, HANSON, LOGON, LOGAN, APPLEBY, PETERSON, FAUST

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/15/2019 at 17:53:40

From Nevada Evening Journal May 29, 1947 (page 6)

Military Services Held For V. L. Christianson, Young Veteran Huxley

Huxley, May 28--Funeral services for Le Roy Christianson, east of Huxley, were held Wednesday afternoon, May 22, 1947, with a brief devotional at 1:30 from the Ritis funeral home in Slater and at 2 o'clock at the Methodist church in Sheldahl Rev. G. A. Lokkensgaard of Central Lutheran church in Des Moines, and Rev. H. J. Krenmyre of the Methodist church were in charge. "Sunrise Tomorrow," and "The Old Rugged Cross," were sung by Homer Lewis.

Vernon LeRoy Christianson, son of Tom and Emma Christianson, was born Oct. 3, 1921, in Brookings county, S. D. He came to Sheldahl with his parents when he was four years old, and lived in that community until about five years ago when he moved to the Huxley community.

He attended the Sheldahl schools and was graduated with the class of 1939. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in the Bethlehem church at Slater.

He was united in marriage Oct. 18, 1941, to Verna Hanson of Huxley. To this union four children were born, two of whom preceded him in death.

Purple Heart

He was called to the service of his country June 2, 1944, and was overseas in November of the same year. On April 18, 1945, Vernon was wounded in action and was hospitalized for some time subsequently received the purple heart. He was with the 100th division when they took the town of Bitche and also fought in other campaigns in the European theater.

He was discharged from the army on March 12, 1946, and took up residing with his family at Huxley. He was employed by Martin Sheldahl and later by the State Highway commission at Ames. He took sick last January and on March 30 entered the Veterans hospital in Des Moines where he died of cancer Sunday morning, May 18, at the age of 25 years.

There were many beautiful floral remembrances. Legion Commander Ross E. Daggett, presented a U. S. flag to Mrs. Emma Christianson, mother of the deceased, with the following words, "The United States government presents to you, through the American Legion this flag under which our comrade served." The flag was presented to Mrs. Emma Christianson at Mrs. Vernon Christianson is still confined to the hospital.

Military Rites

He was laid to rest in the Sheldahl cemetery with full military honors conducted by the Slater post No. 260 of the American Legion. He is survived by his wife, Verna, his son, Jimmie LeRoy, age 4, his infant daughter, Deanna Joy, who was born last Saturday, May 17, his mother, Mrs. Emma Christianson, of Sheldahl, six brothers, Alden of Omaha, Arvel of Milwaukee, Wisl, Marion of Eugene, Ore., Benelt of Kenosha, Wis., Jonas of Slater and Chester of Sheldahl; four sisters, Mrs. Tom Logon of Los Angeles, Cal., Mrs. Howard Appleby of Omaha, Neb., and Mrs. Dean Peterson and Ms. Charles Faust of Sheldahl and a host of other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers were Dr. Earl P. Smith, Maurice Stigler, Howard Nelson, Stanley Klonglan, David Peterson and Rodney Sutter; firing squad: Clifford Swanson, commander, and Art Nelson Jr., Cecil Olson, Lester Nelson Jr., Wm. Schaudt Jr., Warren Hunt and Harold Anderson; color guards Mervin Ihle and Nilus Ihle; color bearers: Glen Peterson and Wilmer Twit; bugler: Nettie Hammond; echo bugler: Henry Dean Buche.

Attend From Distance

Relative from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Christianson of Kenosha, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. Aldon Christianson, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Christianson, Gene Christianson, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Appleby, and Olin Osland, all of Omaha, Neb., and Tom Olson of Dupont, Wash.