Everett E. Christiansen

Posted

(Apr. 29, 2006)

Everett E. Christiansen, known to many as “Chris,” died Saturday, April 29 at the age of 81, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.

A celebration of his life will be held at the United Methodist Church in Powell at 2 p.m. today (Tuesday), May 2, with burial at Crown Hill Cemetery following services.

He was born in Columbus, Kans., Oct. 28, 1924, to George and Irene Christiansen, third of eight children. He graduated from high school and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1944 where he worked with radio, electronics and radar mechanics. He served in the 97th Bomb Group in Fogga, Italy and received an honorable discharge in 1946. He attended Kansas State College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry in May of 1950.

While attending college in Manhattan, Kans., he met Martha Weathered, and they were married in Norwich, Kans., Oct. 21, 1950. Everett and Martha lived near Cherokee, Kans., farming and dairying. In 1953, Everett moved his family to Powell where he worked for Associated Seed a short time, then he worked for John Krause three years. They moved a mile east of Powell on the Cemetery Road in 1957. It was there they would raise their three children and live for the next 40 years, dairying and farming. He taught his children to stand up for what they believed, and he practiced that all of his life.

Everett was involved with many organizations and served as officers and on committees in all of them. He was a member of the Powell First United Methodist Church, serving as District Lay Leader in UMC many years; Park County and Wyoming Farm Bureau; Shoshone Milk Producers; Wyoming Dairy Control Board; Director of American Dairy Assn.; Rotary Club; Powell Flyers Club (earned his pilot’s license in 1976); Wyoming Civil Air Patrol; Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce and President of the Mayor’s Committee for the Handicapped. He also spent three months in Kenya, Africa as a “Volunteer In Mission” helping with a water project.

After he retired from farming, he enjoyed mowing the roadside with his riding lawn mower. He never gave up living life to the fullest as long as it was possible. Everett and Martha moved to town in 1996, and they continued walking and keeping active. In August of 2002 he entered the Powell Valley Care Center, where he loved and appreciated the staff and their caring ways. He participated in activities there, as long as possible.

He is survived by his wife, Martha; three children, Steve (Debbie) Christiansen of Powell; Gala (Stephen) Brown of Lansing, Mich.; and Jill (Seaton) Smith of Powell; six grandchildren, Christy (Larry) Larsen, Mike (Betsy) Christiansen, Shannon and Jessica Brown, and Forrest and Alyssa Smith; two great grandchildren, Bianca and Mattie Larsen; one brother, Ted (Carol) Christiansen of Powell, five sisters, Grace Loyd, Jean Fitzgerald, Vera McMillian, Dorothy Yaege and Mary Nolte, all of Kansas. His parents and one brother, Fred, preceded him in death.

Memorials may be made to the Powell United Methodist Church, Powell Valley Care Center, or Big Horn Basin Parkinson’s Support Group.

Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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