Mary Delphine (Housel) CHRISTENSEN

CHRISTENSEN, HOUSEL, FINCH

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/1/2011 at 11:51:02

November 7, 1903 -- May 5, 1984

Mary Delphine (known as Delphine to all) was born to Lorenzo William and Mina (Finch) Housel in Nichols, N.Y. She grew up in Humboldt, attending first the Humboldt City schools. She then attended Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and then Iowa State College in Ames. She worked on her father's political campaigns of the late 20s and early 30s. After a marriage that did not work out, she married a simple hard working son of an immigrant: A farmer who appreciated her love of education and politics. The union of Charley [Christensen] and Delphine produced five children (two who died as infants). Delphine was left to raise her three sons alone when Charley died suddenly. With the help of both her family, and that of her husband's family, she managed to maintain the farms, and send all three sons to college. This despite a hip that was destroyed by a childhood disease.

She remained active in local politics all of her life, becoming a co-chair of the Humboldt Democratic party in the 1970s and hosting both the wife and the mother of our 39th President to a "Tea" early in his campaign for President of the United States. Delphine also remained active in the Congregational Church and in its quilting club. Her creative mind, beautiful singing voice, and knowledge of family history are missed even to this day.