Doris Gwendolyn Christensen 1922 - 2005

CHRISTENSEN, HALL, OLSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/31/2019 at 19:17:36

Sioux City Journal
29 November 2005

CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa -- Doris Gwendolyn Christensen, 83, of Sioux City, formerly of Correctionville, passed away Friday, Nov. 25, 2005, at Sunrise Retirement Community in Sioux City.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Grace United Methodist Church in Correctionville, with the Rev. Sheryl K. Ashley officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery, Sioux City. Visitation will be 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Barker Funeral Home in Correctionville.

Doris was born Oct. 3, 1922, in Fairfax, S.D., the daughter of Rudolph and Lucille (Hall) Olson. The family later moved, to what was to become the family farm, near Sergeant Bluff, where she attended elementary and high schools. She graduated from high school in 1940. After graduation, she attended the University of South Dakota from 1940 to 1944, where she was a member of the Chi Omega social sorority. She graduated with honors with a major in English and a minor in French. During World War II, she worked as the head cashier at the main PX at the Sioux City Air Base. She taught high school for many years. Among her places of employment were Smithland, Luton, Climbing Hill, Peterson and Schleswig, Iowa.

She married Eldon A. Christensen on July 25, 1948, at Grace United Methodist Church in Sioux City. Eldon preceded her in death on Nov. 1, 1997, in Sioux City. During the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, she was a well known speech coach and contest judge. She also enjoyed directing many high school plays in addition to teaching English and French. She retired from teaching in 1968. When her husband, became ill, she moved to North Park Assisted Living in Sioux City, where she resided for 11 years.

During her free time, she enjoyed playing bridge, shopping, conversation, following Morningside football and the Chicago Bulls sports teams and spending time with her family. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, AAUW and Grace United Methodist Church in Correctionville. She was active in the Republican Party, serving as a delegate to the Woodbury County Republican Convention.

Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Camille and Dr. Kevin J. Liudahl of Sioux City and Pamela and Brian Briese of Correctionville; four grandchildren, Adam and Nicole Liudahl and David and Samuel Briese; a nephew, Scott Britton of Jackson, Miss.; and a niece, Susan Pennell of Long Beach, Miss.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant grandson, Nathan Briese; and a sister, Marian Britton.