Obituary of Theodore Christianson

THEODORE (TED) CHRISTIANSON Ted Christianson was born to Tom and Ellen Christianson, Sept. 30, 1920, south of Veteran, AB. He was the youngest of 5 children and the first one of his family born in Canada. His parents had both emigrated from Norway to Ross, North Dakota where they were married on Nov. 11, 1912. They travelled by train to the Veteran area in Nov. 1918 to join the Tom, Ole and Otto Thulien families. They were too late to get a homestead so they lived and worked on the homesteads of others. It was a very difficult time for the family when their mother died on Feb. 23, 1929 at the young age of 52. She left five children under the age of 16 (Ted only being 8). He attended Rae School across the road from where they lived at the “Ole Thulien” farm. They were able to come home for lunches at noon and he could check on his ”laying hens” and little chicks when they hatched. Ted had to quit school when he was 12 years old as he was needed to work on the farm. Ted married Gertrude Eleanor Cross on May 1, 1941. After a short honeymoon to Wetaskawin and Falun areas to visit Henry and Deborah Heistad, they settled on the Bill Rae place south of Veteran. Ted worked for Uncle Tom Thulien and eventually purchased his farmland from them. Ted and Gert raised cattle, chickens and hogs, and milked cows every morning and night. He especially enjoyed growing things and took pride in his grain fields and his big garden, often giving away much of the produce. This was the first year he missed planting a garden. Ted and Gert were blessed with three children: Ellen in April 1942, Robert (Bob) in April, 1945 and Bonita (Bonnie) in April 1947. A baby girl passed away at birth in Nov. 1943. In 1948, many families joined together to build a church in Veteran which became known as the Full Gospel Church. Ted was very involved in the Sunday School and served on the Church Board until 1997 at which time he was made an honorary member. He was involved in all areas of the church, often leading singing and working on special projects. He especially enjoyed working with the young people, even building a ball diamond on their farm to give the young people something so do on a Saturday night. Ted took a very active part in many church and community organizations, often as Chairman, including: Veteran Camp, the Home and School Assoc., Veteran Board of Trade, Special Areas Advisory Council, Acadia Foundation (Consort Lodge), Coronation-Paintearth Nursing Home Board, Full Gospel Bible Institute (now Eston College) as well as serving as Master of Ceremonies at numerous weddings and community events. In 2005 he was awarded an Alberta Centennial Medal. Ted and Gert moved to the Consort Senior’s Lodge in 2005 but often came back “home” to the farm on weekends. After Gert passed away, on May 9, 2011, Ted lived at the farm while renovations and a new addition were being built at the Lodge. He moved back to the Lodge in Dec. 2011 but usually came back home to the farm for a while on Sunday after church. Earlier this year Ted had not been feeling well and as he gradually became weaker it was necessary for him to be admitted to the Coronation Hospital on July 31st. He passed away peacefully, with family members at his side, shortly before 1:00 pm. on Sunday, August 11 at the age of 92 years. Ted was predeceased by his wife Gertrude; his parents, Tom and Ellen Christianson, an infant daughter; two sisters, Christine and Deborah Heistad; brother, Joe; as well as a number of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Ted is lovingly remembered by his children, Ellen (Robert) Smith of Black Diamond, Bob (Betty) Christianson of Veteran and Bonnie (Brian) Meyer of Red Deer. He is also survived by grandchildren, Darla (Dan) Duncan, Murray (Joanne) Smith, Harvey (Andrea) Smith, Carolyn (Derek) Morrison, Sheldon (RaeAnn) Smith, Brian (Remi) Christianson, Roberta Christianson, Barbara (Dean) Lange, Beth Christianson, Becky (James) Cousins , Deedra (Geoffrey) Fenton, Chad (April) Meyer, Todd (Giselle) Meyer, as well as 30 great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews He also leaves to mourn his passing his sister, Esther Heistad, of Calgary and sister-in-law, Anna Cross, also of Calgary.