Carol D. Christenson

Carol Christenson, 89, died Saturday (December 18, 2010) at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Thompson, IA. Burial will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home 505 N Clark St in Forest City and will continue an hour prior to service at the church.

Carol Deloris (Johnson) Christenson, the daughter of Carlton and Adina (Hefte) Johnson, was born January 29, 1921 in Belmond Township, Wright County, Iowa. She was baptized at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Belmond, on March 13, 1921, and was confirmed at Kanawha Lutheran Church, Kanawha on August 27, 1935. She attended Belmond Township #2 School through the eighth grade and worked for the Tyrell family in Belmond. Carol was 16 when she went on her first date with a young man named Earl Christenson. They were introduced by Earl's brother, Lloyd. Carol and Earl dated for 3 years and then were engaged for 1 year.
On September 14, 1941, she was united in marriage to Earl Albert Christenson at the Congregational Church in Belmond. Earl started farming in 1942 in the Kanawha and Clarion areas. In 1952 they moved to a farm near Bricelyn, MN where they farmed until he retired in 1983. Carol enjoyed raising chickens which she butchered and sold, and had a huge strawberry bed along with all the flower beds. Carol helped with the farming and during the summer she also worked in the sweet corn factory in Bricelyn.
In 1993, they moved to Forest City, IA to enjoy their retirement years. Earl and Carol celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on September 14, 2001. Carol enjoyed spending time with her family, golfing, playing cards, bowling and dancing, whether it be square dancing, or polkas and waltzes. She crocheted afghans for all of her children and grandchildren, and also embroidered a set of dish towels for each of them. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Thompson, IA where she was a member of the Altar Guild and WELCA, and her circle. In 1995 she transferred her membership to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City where she was active in circle. She was also an active member of the Kum Along Club in Forest City. Carol entered the Lake Mills Care Center on May 1, 2009.

Survivors include son Larry (Mary) Christenson of Phoenix, AZ and their family, Diana (Jim) Kostas, Alex, Christopher and James of Glen Ridge, NJ and Paul (Jessica) Christenson of Phoenix, AZ; son Keith Christenson and his family Kim Christenson and Bob Martin, Ty, Brock, Caleb and Austin of Klemme, IA, Kelly Christenson, Carrie Morin and their son Donivan of Mason City, and Kurt Christenson of Fort Riley, Kansas; daughter Kathy (Dan) Swearingen of Thompson, IA and their family Tammy (Mark) Solberg of Conway, AR, Kristin (Matt) DeMott of Centerton, AR, Laura and son Aiden, Brandon, Blake and Megan Solberg of Conway, AR, Kevin Swearingen of Thompson, and Troy (Shannon) Swearingen, Paige, Braden and Jessa of Forest City, IA; daughter Pat (Gordon) Sevley of Thompson, IA and their family Michelle (Kallin) Kurtz, Riley and Gretchen of Lakeville, MN, Scott (Arin) Anderson of Thompson, Michelle (John) Blong, Tyler, Jacob and Kayla of Brainerd, MN, and Renee (Lamont) Andrews, Megan and Joshua of St. Ansgar, IA; daughter Eloise (Lyle) Wirtjes of Thompson, IA and their family Ryan (Jennifer) Wirtjes, Kasey, Krisanne and baby due in May of Denver, IA, Allison (Chad) Hinders, Taylen, Elise, Kinzee, Mylie and baby due in February of Buffalo Center, IA, Emily of Cedar Falls, IA and Cody (Alicia) Wirtjes of Thompson, IA; daughter Deborah (Harlan) Nyhus of Forest City, IA, and their family Sara (Jeff) Penning and Abigail of Clear Lake, IA, Holden and Heidi of Ames, IA.
Carol is survived by her sister Wilma Friesleben of Belmond, IA, and brothers Dudley (Janice) Johnson of Kanawha, IA, Arland (Avis) Johnson of Hector, MN, and Gary (Barb) Johnson of St. John's Newfoundland, Canada, along with numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by all the special care givers at the Lake Mills Care Center and by the care team from Hospice of North Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl on May 14, 2002, three sisters, three brothers (two in infancy), son-in-law Gary Anderson and great-grandson Zackery.