Daniel Christensen

DANIEL EINER CHRISTENSEN was born to Einer and Hilda (Andersen) Christensen on January 30, 1939 in Tyler, Minnesota where he was raised and received his education. While in high school, he was employed at Meyers Gas Station in Tyler. In 1958, he graduated from Tyler High School. Upon completion of his education, he was employed from 1958 to 1960 in Topeka, Kansas building grain elevators. Dan then moved to Tyler and was employed by Goos Electric from 1960 to 1962. In 1962, he moved to Pipestone, Minnesota where he was employed at Southwest Co-op Electric. On January 26, 1963, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Knutson at First Lutheran Church in Volga, South Dakota. Following their marriage, they resided in Pipestone where he continued to work for Southwest Co-op Electric until his retirement in November, 1996 from South West Sioux Valley. In 1999, they moved to their cabin on Lake Sarah near Garvin, Minnesota which they had purchased in 1984. Dan had a lung removed in 1996 and in recent months had heart and lung issues. Last week, he entered the Tracy Hospital in Tracy, Minnesota and on Sunday, December 15, 2013, he was transferred to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He died there on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at the age of 74 years, ten months and 28 days.

Dan was a member at First Lutheran Church while he lived in Pipestone and currently attended Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin. In his younger years, he was a member at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler where he was baptized on May 13, 1953 and confirmed on June 7, 1953. During high school years, he enjoyed playing basketball and football. He also helped his father at the salvage yard and because of working there, he continued throughout his life buying used metal. He also enjoyed auctions, bowling, playing cards, especially Pinochle, watching game shows, and talking with his friends. He and his wife loved traveling to many places during their retirement years and attending many plays and other social events. After his retirement and recovering from the removal of his lung, he started helping his son, Mark, at his business, Mark Electric. He enjoyed working alongside his son and appreciated the special relationship they created. He also learned how to be a farmer while helping his son-in-law on his farm near Jasper, Minnesota.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Marjorie Christensen of Garvin, Minnesota; four children, Michael and his wife Paulla Dechmann of Plymouth, Minnesota, Diane and her husband Thomas Dunn of Jasper, Minnesota, Denise Christensen and Mark Christensen, both of Pipestone, Minnesota; seven grandchildren, Anthony Dunn, Cassandra Stromberg, Taylor Dunn, Tristin Dunn, Brittany Christensen, Nathan Christensen and Trenten Dechmann; four great-grandchildren, Emma Dunn, Karli Dunn, Hailey Stromberg and Violet Stromberg; and six siblings, Alice Thorstad of Federal Way, Washington, Vesta Mitchell of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, Gladys Armstrong of Olive, Iowa, Harold and his wife Joan Christensen of Rochester, Minnesota, Jean Deitmerr of Lake City, Minnesota and Howard and his wife Mary Ann Christensen of Taunton, Minnesota. He is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Melvin Christensen; and one sister, Shirley Haskell.