Winifred Christensen

Winifred (Wini) Ann (Knudson) Christensen peacefully passed away after a brief illness on October 8, 2025 surrounded by friends and family at HIA Heather's House, a beautiful new hospice facility in Fargo. She moved on from this world like the warm, late-summer breeze that blows across her beloved Bad Medicine Lake.

The youngest of four children, Wini was born August 9,1935, was raised on and maintained a deep connection to the 2K Ranch near Taylor, North Dakota. She graduated from Taylor High School and attended Concordia College in Moorhead, graduating in 1957 with a degree in Education. She was teaching 3rd grade at McKinley Elementary School, Fargo, when she met the love of her life, Douglas (Doug) Christensen. Following their marriage on August 7, 1960, Wini joined Doug in moving around the world to wherever his Army career took them. Over time, their family grew to include three sons.

In 1982, after many moves across 10 different states and Germany, they settled back in Fargo. Together, they enjoyed and contributed to a large community of friends, family, and organizations, traveled, and spent time at Bad Medicine Lake. After Doug passed in January 1995, Wini became even more involved in local activities and continued to travel.

Wini's community involvement included volunteer and board roles with PEO, Fine Arts Club, and her home base, First Lutheran Church. She had a rich schedule of weekly coffees with friends and neighbors, exercise class, and weekly Sunday brunches following her faithful attendance at First Lutheran Church's traditional service.

Wini was known affectionately as "Grandma Wini" by her seven grandchildren. She had close connections to them all, maintaining an impressive capacity to stay in touch via texts, phone calls, FaceTime and hosting weekend visits. The highlight of her year was spending time together each summer with the entire family for Cabin Week.

She will be remembered as wise counsel and an avid reader who loved the color blue, Bison football, Class B basketball tournaments, local college music programs, and a good dose of Bad Medicine Lake. Those who were lucky enough to spend even a short time with her recognized her kind, sweet, generous spirit and fun sense of humor.

She was preceded in death by Doug, her parents Knute and Evaline Knudson, and siblings, Kenneth Knudson, Joyce Voorhees, and Vernon Knudson. She is survived by her sons, Eric, Hanover, MN, David (Tracy), Tampa, FL and Jeff (Amee), Farmington, MN; adoring grandchildren, Casey, Rachel, Jona, Madeline, Mackenzie, Elise, and Dane. She is also survived by extended family including the children and grandchildren of her siblings who were a major part of her life and brought her great joy.

Visitation will be held at 9 am October 20th at First Lutheran Church, followed by a Celebration of her life at 10am and then a private burial.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be contributed to FLC Foundation, Fargo or HIA Heather's House.