Rolan Ray Christensen

Rolan Ray Christensen, 83, of Shelley, Idaho, died April 21, 2007, at his home.  

He was born August 31, 1923, in Shelley, Idaho, to Lewis Peter Christensen and Amanda Eliza Gutke Christensen.  He was their sixth living child.  He grew up in the Jameston area, attended schools in Shelley and graduated in 1941.   

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  In 1946 he served an LDS mission to Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.   

On July 12, 1949, he married Wanda Bowler in the Idaho Falls LDS temple.  Rolan was a farmer and carpenter and built many homes in the Shelley area.   

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served in the Sunday School for years.  He was an Explorer leader twice, a stake Mission President for four years, one of the seven presidents of the Shelley Stake Quorum of the Seventies, a High Priest Group Leader twice, a Ward Clerk, and Stake Athletic director twice.  

Rolan loved to camp and spend time outdoors and enjoyed the beauty of the mountains.  He was an avid fisherman and spent every summer fishing the Coffee Pot Rapids in Island Park.  He loved to garden and was delighted to share his produce with neighbors, family and friends.  He enjoyed tending the seedlings in his greenhouse.  He was a real prankster who loved to pull practical jokes.  His humor will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.  

Survivors include his seven children, Max (Ann) Christensen, Helen (Calvin) Pirtle, both of Shelley; Gary Christensen of Rexburg; Carl (Gina) Christensen of Syracuse, UT; Norma Christensen, Steven (Lisa) Christensen, both of Shelley; Donna (Tom) Wuthrich of Idaho Falls; 25 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.    His one wish was that he could outlive his wife so he could take care of her.  His wish came true.  Wanda, his wife, passed away four weeks prior to his death. 

He was also preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Eugene, Ivan and Darwin Christensen; his sisters Lavon and Linda Christensen and Vera Zefferer; one son-in-law, Owen Cramer; and two grandsons, Kevin Cramer and Allan Christensen.  

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the charity of your choice.  

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at the Jameston-Taylor LDS Ward at 1101 E. 1250 N. Shelley, Idaho at 1:00 p.m. with Bishop Kenneth Fielding conducting.  The family will visit with friends from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, at the Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W. Oak, in Shelley and from 11:30 a.m. -12:40 p.m. Wednesday at the church.  Burial will be in the Taylor cemetery.