Larry Gene CHRISTIANSON

CHRISTIANSON, WILLMS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/18/2011 at 15:12:29

June 26, 1935 -- October 4, 2011

RAPID CITY, SD - Larry Gene Christianson, 76, Rapid City, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at Golden Living Center (Bella Vista) Nursing Home. He was born June 26, 1935, at Eagle Grove, Iowa, to Dr. Carlton and Norma Christianson. As a young boy he grew up in Manchester, Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; and Tipton, Iowa. He graduated from Tipton High School in 1953. He was a member of the Tipton basketball team, football team and track team, winning numerous medals and honors. He attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He served in the U.S. Navy.

On Sept. 20, 1959, he married Juanita Willms at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, Monticello, Iowa. They lived for several years in Davenport, Iowa, with Larry working various jobs and going back to college. He started working for United Airlines in July 1968 as a customer service representative, with the family moving to several locations: Ely, Nev.; Pendleton, Ore.; Miami, Fla.,; Elizabethtown, Pa.; and Rapid City in December 1983. He retired from United Airlines Dec. 31, 1993. He was a life member of the Elks Lodge 1187 and the VFW, and a member of Calvary Lutheran Church. He enjoyed fishing, tennis, golfing, bowling, riding bike, running and gardening. He loved the Black Hills and the lakes of South Dakota.

Survivors include his wife, Juanita of Rapid City; three sons, Craig (Susan) Christianson, Roseburg, Ore., Dr. Bradley (Viola) Christianson, Tulsa, Okla., and Jeffrey (Heidi) Christianson, Boise, Idaho; a daughter, Kelly Christianson, Greenwood Village, Colo.; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a brother, Dr. Chester (Margaret) Christianson, Anthem, Ariz.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the Calvary Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dwight Stensgaard officiating. Inurnment, with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota National Guard, will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. A luncheon will follow services at the church. Memorials may be directed to Calvary Lutheran Church, 5311 Sheridan Lake Road, Rapid City, S.D. 57702. Arrangements are under the direction of Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Rapid City Journal - Rapid City, South Dakota
October 18, 2011