Christen, Joyce Leatrice (Olson) 1936 - 2015

CHRISTEN, OLSON, ELLERTSON, KIRTON, TOTTEN, COFFMAN, SANDERS, AMOLINS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 1/24/2015 at 13:28:56

Joyce L. Christen, age 78, died at her home in Decorah on Sunday morning, January 18, 2015.

Memorial Services will be held at 6:30 P.M. Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Dave Sorenson and Rev. Bryan Robertson officiating.

Visitation will begin at 5:30 P.M. Tuesday, one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church.

Joyce Leatrice Christen was born at home to Fern (Ellertson) Olson and Joseph Olson, near Bricelyn, MN on September 10, 1936. She was baptized at Bricelyn Lutheran Church and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kiester, Minnesota in 1951. Joyce graduated high school in 1954 and attended Waldorf College. She met Harvin O. Christen while finishing her teaching degree at Luther College. Joyce taught second grade in Winnebago, MN and Compton, CA from 1956-1959. Joyce and Hub were married August 2, 1958 at Immanuel Lutheran Church. To this union, four children were born: Tonda Laeh, Todd Michael, Teela Shawn, and Troy David.

Joyce taught adult education classes in St. Paul, MN, Omaha Technical College, Iowa Lakes Community College, and Northern Iowa Community College. Joyce and Hub made their home in Decorah, Iowa in 1973. She loved to create window treatments and in 1973 opened Christen Custom Draperies in their home. Beginning in 1974, she moved the business to downtown Decorah where it remained open until she retired in 2012. Joyce loved Decorah Lutheran Church. The people, committees, studies, fellowship, and redecorating of the church restrooms with Hub, gave her joy. She enjoyed surprising people with rommegrot and kringla. She liked learning new things and is remembered for saying, “Everything in life contains a lesson.”

Preceding her in death are her parents; brother, Marlyn, and sister,Joyce Beverly, who died in infancy.

She will be missed by her husband, Hub; children: Tonda (Ken) Kirton, Freeman, SD, Todd Christen, Eden Prairie, MN, Teela Totten, Rio Rancho, NM and Troy (Anna) Christen, Albuquerque, NM. Nine grandchildren will remember her: Tialyn (Val) Coffman, Danielle Sanders, Trevor Sanders, Miriah (Mike) Amolins, Nichole Christen, Danika Totten, Brittany Christen, and Tiana and Jenna Christen. Joyce has three great-grandchildren: Kennedy, Easton, and Henry Fred.

Instead of flowers, Joyce requested that memorials be made to Decorah Lutheran Church (attention: Special Project), 309 Winnebago Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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