Dorothy Rae Christensen

Dorothy Rae Christensen, 88, died May 20, 2007 at her home surrounded by her loved ones.

Dorothy was born January 9, 1919, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Alfred Burnham and Hilda Mae Hansen.  She grew up and attended schools in Idaho Falls.  After graduation she studied violin for one year at the McCune School of Music in Salt Lake City, Utah.             On March 4, 1942, she married her eternal companion, Wesley B. Christensen in the Salt Lake Temple.  They lived in Shelley where he farmed and sold seed and chemicals and later became a Bingham County Commissioner.

She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and held various leadership callings.  Her most endearing service came when she and Wesley served as missionaries in Rochester, NY (1991).  How great her joy was to serve, but even greater was her joy to be with her family again.

She was blessed with 7 children, 36 grandchildren, and 58 great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored.  Dorothy looked forward to Sunday evenings when many family members came to visit.

One of her cherished and longest lasting loves was playing the violin and listening to inspiring music.  She captured audiences at weddings, funerals, and Sacrament Meetings with her music throughout the valley.  She performed for the Idaho Falls Symphony for many years and taught Suzuki violin to elementary students in the Idaho Falls School District.

Dorothy loved serving others.  Many were recipients of fresh produce form the garden, hot rolls, fresh cut sweet peas, or even a visit with her cheerful smile and kind words.

Everything about the way she spoke, acted, and dressed made her a lady in the true sense of the word.  She will be sorely missed.      

Survivors include her seven children; Richard (Becky) Christensen, Brian (LeeAnn) Christensen both of Idaho Falls, Kendall (Rori) Christensen, Terrill (Kathryn) Christensen, Marne’ (Michael) McKnight all of Shelley, Joel (Beverly) Christensen of Baltimore, MD, and Diane (Chad) Stratton of Orem, UT.  She was preceded in death by her husband and brother.

The family wishes to thank Dorothy’s caregiver, Charlotte Baker, for the tender loving services she rendered and the nursing staff of Aspen Home Health and Hospice.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday May 24th at the Shelley South Stake Center (675 South Milton Ave) with Bishop Vern Bowden officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7:00 till 8:30 P.M. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak) in Shelley and Thursday morning 9:30 till 10:40 A.M at the church. Interment will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.