Ione Christensen

Helen “Ione” Christensen was born October 2, 1930 to Ralph and Minnie (Hetland) Larson in Ellsborough Township, rural Balaton, Minnesota. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Ellsborough Lutheran Church. She grew up on a farm near Ruthton, Minnesota in the Current Lake area. She attended country school District 45, and graduated from Ruthton High School in 1949, where she was Homecoming Queen. She continued her education at Lamberton Teachers College in Lamberton, Minnesota and taught country school from 1950-1953. Ione married Kenneth Christensen on June 7, 1952. Their union was blessed with four children—LaJoy, Linda, Connie, and Mark—and 44 years of life together. They lived one year in Texas while Kenneth was stationed in the Air Force, then returned to Minnesota and lived on a farm one mile west of Tyler where she dedicated her life to farming and her family. They retired in 1991 and moved into Tyler. Ione was a loving caregiver for husband Kenny prior to his death in December 1996. In 2008 she entered Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler, where she died peacefully with her family at her side on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the age of 81 years, 1 month, and 8 days.

Ione was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Tyler where she was active in women’s circles, WELCA, and as a Sunday School teacher. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed her life on the farm, tending to her sheep flock. She loved flower gardening, vegetable gardening, canning, card club, birthday club, embroidery, a bowl of popcorn, watching Lawrence Welk, refinishing furniture, and going to Dar’s for beer and pizza. She especially enjoyed time spent with her family.

Ione is lovingly remembered by her children, LaJoy (and Bishop Larry) Wohlrabe of Moorhead, MN, Linda (and Roger) Johnson of Breckenridge, MN, and Mark (and Cathy) Christensen of Tyler, MN; 11 grandchildren, Erik Wohlrabe, Kristen (Aaron) Haddorff, Tanner and Jacob Johnson, Krystal, Brooke, and Ashley Paluch, and Haley, Joshua, Jared, and Jonah Christensen; her sister, Lorraine Ryberg of Apple Valley, MN; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Christensen; daughter, Connie Paluch; and her parents.