Helen Christensen

Helen Carrie (Larson) Christensen, 101, of Moorhead, MN, died Monday, May 11, 2009, at Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, MN. Helen was born June 21, 1907, in Callender, Iowa, the daughter of Nelse and Catherine Larson. She attended school in Webster County Iowa and graduated from Fort Dodge High School, Iowa. Helen enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) in 1925 and received her Second Grade Certificate on July 1, 1927. She taught at the Moorland, Iowa, consolidated school for the next three years. On June 2, 1931, Helen married Steffen Peter “Pete” Christensen in Callender, Iowa. After living in Des Moines and Iowa City, Iowa, and St. Louis, Missouri, Helen and Peter moved to Fargo in 1941. Helen was active in Eastern Star, the Red River Danes and also provided many dressed dolls for the Shiloh Masonic Lodge (where Peter was a member) and the Shriner’s Hospitals. Helen was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Fargo. After her children started school, Helen went to work for J.C. Penney and then for Shotwell’s Women’s Apparel. She worked there for almost 30 years and during that time, Helen dressed many a Fargo area bride and also the models for the annual Shotwell’s style shows. Helen was a great seamstress and loved to make clothing items for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren considered it a real treat to receive one of “Grandma Pete’s” sock monkeys. Helen was an exceptional cook and left her family a legacy of Scandinavian recipes for special holiday meals and her famous “Grandma dinners.” Helen is survived by her children, Thomas P. (Elena) Christensen, Kirkland, WA; Dr. Steffen P. (Jan) Christensen III, Fargo, ND; and Sonje (Fraine), St. Michael, MN; special niece, Kathy Lunn, Hoffman Estates, IL; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, S. P. Christensen; her sister, Mabel Larson Lunn; a brother, Maurice Larson; and an infant daughter. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be sent to Messiah Lutheran Church of Fargo or the Eventide Foundation in Moorhead, MN. Memorial Service: Sunday, May 17, 2009, at 2:00 PM, at Bottolfson Chapel, Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, MN.