DeeAnn Nelson Christensen, 83, of Bear River City, Utah, our beautiful wife, mother and grandmother, completed her earthly journey on October 2, 2023. DeeAnn was born in Brigham City, Utah on October 17, 1939. Her parents were Raymond and LaVon Nelson.
DeeAnn grew up on the family farm with her four brothers and one sister. She graduated from Box Elder High School in 1957 and also attended LDS Business College.
She married her sweetheart, Don Christensen, on November 17, 1966 in the Logan Temple. They lived in Harper Ward (where Curtis was born) and Willard (where Lori was born). They moved to Fresno, California in 1971 (where Doug was born), then to Germantown, Maryland in 1988, and after a brief stint in Payson, to Brigham City, and finally to Bear River in 2003.
DeeAnn worked for First Security Bank and Thiokol in Brigham City and for the IRS in Ogden. She worked for Bonnie Peterson doing secretarial work and as an ESOL assistant at Easterby Elementary School in Fresno. And in Maryland, she worked at Wang and Weston as a secretary.
DeeAnn was a longtime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served a mission to Sweden from 1960 to 1962, as well as two stake missions. She served in numerous callings in primary, young women’s and relief societies, at the Brigham City Family History Library and as an ordainist at the Ogden Temple.
She loved music and had a beautiful alto voice. She often sang in church and at parish functions. She loved reading, mostly classics, but also novels by Mormon authors and books on evangelical topics and leaders. Before her hands started to hurt too much, she loved doing crosswords, word searches, and crochet.
She loved her family and accepted any reason to reunite them. She participated in as many of her children’s and grandchildren’s activities as possible. She also tried not to miss events with her extended family. Nothing made her happier than spending time with her family.
One of his favorite vacation spots was Yellowstone. She looked forward to an annual trip in June and often a second trip in September as well. Don and DeeAnn had the opportunity to visit many historic sites in and around Washington, DC, while living in Maryland. After returning to Utah, they also visited many sites around Utah and the Western United States.
She was active in the Bear River Camp of the Daughters of the Pioneers of Utah and loved the friendships she made there.
DeeAnn is survived by her husband Don, her daughter Lori Ann (Brent) Horn, her son Douglas Ray (Melissa) Christensen, her grandchildren Alexander Christensen, Cierra Christensen, KayLee (Jon) Higbee, Kelsey Horn, Zachary Christensen, Abigail Horn and Kaden Peterson and his brothers Gary, Paul (Lezlie) and Dennis (Judy) Nelson. She was preceded in death by her parents, son Curtis Don Christensen, brother Richard (Dick) Nelson and sister Pamela Peterson.
The funeral will take place on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. All services will be held at the Bear River City LDS Church (5870 N 4700 W St-Bear River City). Burial will be in Bear River Cemetery. Services will be live streamed and accessible at www.ruddfuneralhome.com.
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT PAN THE CROWD AND THE CAMERA IS FOCUSED ON THE PULPIT. WE WILL TRY TO LIVE STREAM THE FUNERAL SERVICE. IF WE CANNOT DO THIS, DUE TO CHURCH INTERNET SERVICE, A RECORDING WILL BE UPLOADED WITHIN 24-48 HOURS AFTER THE SERVICE.