Ralph Lee Christensen 1931 - 2021

CHRISTENSEN, BETH, MCCARVILLE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/15/2021 at 10:18:42

Ralph Lee Christensen, 90, of Onawa, Iowa passed away Monday, May 17, 2021 at Burgess Health Center, Onawa, Iowa.

A funeral service will be 10:00 A.M. Monday, May 24, 2021 at Faith Lutheran Church, Onawa, Iowa with Pastor Marsha Smith officiating. (Please bring and wear masks). Burial will be in the Belvidere Cemetery in rural Turin, Iowa. Visitation will be 5:00 – 6:00 P.M. Sunday, May 23, 2021 at the Rush Family Chapel, Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa, Iowa.

Ralph Lee Christensen was born May 10, 1931 in Onawa, Iowa the son of Chris and Irma Matilda (Beth) Christensen. Ralph grew up on a rural farm near Turin, Iowa. He graduated from Castana High School in 1949 where he enjoyed playing basketball.

Ralph and Bernadine (McCarville) were united into marriage on May 13, 1951 in Onawa, Iowa. He worked for the Monona County Corp of Engineers for one year. The couple farmed in rural Onawa and then moved to Turin in 1956 where they made their home and were lifelong farmers. In 1976 they built a home in Onawa and still continued to farm. Ralph was on the Iowa soybean promotion board and traveled to many places. Ralph was one of the first in the area to embrace no-till farming.

He was an avid bridge player. Ralph loved all of the Iowa Hawkeye sports and for many years enjoyed going to every Iowa home football game. He also was a Minnesota Vikings Fan.

Ralph was a past Castana school board member and helped with the consolidation of the West Monona Community School District. He was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Onawa, Iowa.

Survivors include his children, Debra (Frank) Hill of Powell, Ohio and Cynthia Christensen of Iowa City, Iowa; his grandchildren, Aaron (Meghan) Hill and Megan Hill; his great-grandchildren, Elizabeth May and Michael Lee Hill; his brother, Dr. Raymond Christensen of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Irma (Beth) Christensen; one brother, Lawrence Christensen; and three sisters, Adele Christensen, Pearl Wilson, and Bernice Halliday.

Memorials may be donated to the Faith Lutheran Church, Onawa, Iowa.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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