1916
Orrin
2010
Orrin Christenson
September 2, 1916 — April 9, 2010
Orrin A. Christenson, 93, of the Barrett Care Center, and formerly of Wendell, died at the Barrett Care Center on Friday, April 9, 2010
Services: 2 p.m. Friday, April 16,2010 at United Lutheran Chuch, Elbow Lake, Pastor Bob Toso officiating. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Elbow Lake, and resuming one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Burial is in West Elbow Cemetery.
Orrin Alfred Christenson was born at the home of his parents, Ole and Annie (Ellingson) Christenson, in Wendell, Minnesota, on September 2, 1916. He attended school in Wendell through the tenth grade and then moved with his parents to a farm south of Wendell where he began his farming career. Orrin always felt fortunate to have such wonderful parents and three older sisters who were all so good to him. He loved music and played French horn with the Wendell band during his younger years. Orrin was united in marriage to Louise Weigand on September 25, 1938, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake. They made their home on the farm where they raised their four children and together built up their registered Gardenia Holstein herd. Orrin believed in farmers cooperating with each other and was active in organizations promoting this. He helped organize the Farmers Co-op in Wendell and served on its board for nine years. He was a 4-H leader and taught his children about caring for animals and cooperating with others. Orrin enjoyed hunting, fishing, (teaching his grandchildren to fish), and dancing. He enjoyed working with his horses; almost to the day he died, he could list his teams of horses. Orrin was an active member of West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church. He loved singing in the choir and held various church offices. His faith in God was strong, and he passed that faith along to his family. In the fall of 2003, Orrin moved from his farm to the assisted living unit in Barrett and later to the Barrett Care Center, where he died on Friday, April 9, 2010. Orrin is survived by sons Gerald (Anita) of Wendell and Odell (Mary) of Wendell; daughters Karen (Richard) Lundberg of Rochester and Darla (Gene) Hanson of Evansville; grandchildren Paul (Eileen) Lundberg, Peggy(Mike) Haining, Barry (Maria) Christenson, Linda (Ron) Hougen, Terry (Teri) Christenson, Lisa (Dave) Dybdal, Kristine (Christopher) Erickson, Dean (Megan) Christenson, Brian (Courtney) Hanson, Joe (Laura) LaRue, and Darin (Natalie) Hanson; 26 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law Evelyn Weigand, Mary Fjosne, Clara Lysne, and Lena Greeley. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sisters Selma Weigand, Agnes Swennes, and Bertha Johnson, and infant great-granddaughter, Olivia Lundberg.
Services: 2 p.m. Friday, April 16,2010 at United Lutheran Chuch, Elbow Lake, Pastor Bob Toso officiating. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Elbow Lake, and resuming one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Burial is in West Elbow Cemetery.
Orrin Alfred Christenson was born at the home of his parents, Ole and Annie (Ellingson) Christenson, in Wendell, Minnesota, on September 2, 1916. He attended school in Wendell through the tenth grade and then moved with his parents to a farm south of Wendell where he began his farming career. Orrin always felt fortunate to have such wonderful parents and three older sisters who were all so good to him. He loved music and played French horn with the Wendell band during his younger years. Orrin was united in marriage to Louise Weigand on September 25, 1938, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake. They made their home on the farm where they raised their four children and together built up their registered Gardenia Holstein herd. Orrin believed in farmers cooperating with each other and was active in organizations promoting this. He helped organize the Farmers Co-op in Wendell and served on its board for nine years. He was a 4-H leader and taught his children about caring for animals and cooperating with others. Orrin enjoyed hunting, fishing, (teaching his grandchildren to fish), and dancing. He enjoyed working with his horses; almost to the day he died, he could list his teams of horses. Orrin was an active member of West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church. He loved singing in the choir and held various church offices. His faith in God was strong, and he passed that faith along to his family. In the fall of 2003, Orrin moved from his farm to the assisted living unit in Barrett and later to the Barrett Care Center, where he died on Friday, April 9, 2010. Orrin is survived by sons Gerald (Anita) of Wendell and Odell (Mary) of Wendell; daughters Karen (Richard) Lundberg of Rochester and Darla (Gene) Hanson of Evansville; grandchildren Paul (Eileen) Lundberg, Peggy(Mike) Haining, Barry (Maria) Christenson, Linda (Ron) Hougen, Terry (Teri) Christenson, Lisa (Dave) Dybdal, Kristine (Christopher) Erickson, Dean (Megan) Christenson, Brian (Courtney) Hanson, Joe (Laura) LaRue, and Darin (Natalie) Hanson; 26 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law Evelyn Weigand, Mary Fjosne, Clara Lysne, and Lena Greeley. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sisters Selma Weigand, Agnes Swennes, and Bertha Johnson, and infant great-granddaughter, Olivia Lundberg.
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