Frances B Christianson

Frances B. Christianson, age 94, Clark, the widow of Fred Christianson, died in the Golden Living Center at Clark early Tuesday morning, July 20, 2010 after a lingering illness. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 23, 2010 at 9AM in the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark with The Reverend Robin Schaunaman officiating. Burial will follow in the Graceland Cemetery at Henry, SD. Honorary Casketbearers will be Myrtle Schrum, Helen Peterson, Mary Helms, Irene Lura, Bonny Schulz, Betty Keyes, Loretta Larson, Velma Bachman, LaVonne Brekke & Faye Knutson. Active Casketbearers will be Brady, Robert, Michael and Andrew Christianson and Nicole and Martin Dews. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-6PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark and 1 hour prior to the services at the Church on Friday morning. She was born Frances Bernice Dahl, the daughter of Ira and Hulda (Klagenberg) Dahl, on January 17, 1916 on a farm 4 miles north of Henry, SD. Frances attended school at the Belmont District #42 near Henry and then Henry High School graduating in 1933. Among some of her activities in school was being a part of a 4-H Club. After graduation she assisted in area homes. On June 28, 1936 she was united in marriage to Fred Christianson at her parents home. Following their marriage the moved to Watertown where Fred worked for Hubbard Implement. While living in Watertown, Frances took in laundry for people and was proud of pressing clothes during WWII for .25c a uniform. She also assisted working, during potato planting, with area farmers and later on the harvester; among them was the Fletchers and Ed Christianson, her brother-in-law. In 1948 the family moved to Clark. While living in Clark, Frances began what would become a career cooking in various kitchens. Her first boss was Margaret Willen at the Clark Nursing Home where she worked for several years until becoming a cook for the Clark School District. She worked there for 25 years. She also assisted at Bellers Lockers for 5 years during hunting season. She and Alida Schanck very much enjoyed the pheasant hunters that came from throughout the United States. Fred died at a young age in 1965. Some of her favorite pastimes included reading, crocheting, knitting, sewing, cooking and baking. At St. Paul Church, which she was a member of for many years, Frances will be remembered for her lefse baking and coleslaw recipe, still being used at the annual lutefisk supper. She had many friends, which at age 94, spanned several generations. Frances thoroughly enjoyed playing cards, especially when she was winning, always looking good when she was playing them also. She was proud of her Danish heritage, traveling to Europe in 1989, seeing Copenhagen, Denmark, which her grandmother immigrated from at age 14. Frances enjoyed traveling very much, being able to visit all 50 States and then the travel across, as she said, to Europe. Family was foremost for her, enjoying her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her many nieces and nephews. A special niece to her was Romagene Rawlins, almost being the daughter she never had and with the boys grown and away from Clark, it made a perfect fit for her and Romagene. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Fred and her siblings, Irene, Aurelius Brother, Dale and Delbert Dahl. Grateful for having shared in her life are her sons, Roger Peggy Christianson of Papillion, NE and Steve Grace Christianson of Tea, SD, 5 grandchildren, Nicole (Martin) Dews, Michael (Jenny) Christianson, Andrew Christianson, Brady (Kristie) Christianson and Robert (Shandra) Christianson, 6 great-grandchildren, Jack, Ella, Hunter and Avery Christianson and Thomas and Annie Dews. Also surviving her is a beloved sister and loyal companion, Mildred Sis Roe of Florence. Funeral arrangements are announced by the Furness Funeral Home of Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com