Clara H. Christensen

Clara H. Christensen was born April 2, 1921 in Billings, MT, the daughter of Martin Otter Grue and Jessie (Stanton) Grue. She died on her birthday, April 2, 2007 at St. John’s Heritage Place in Billings.

Clara’s mother died of tuberculosis when Clara was five years old and her father sent her and her younger brother Milo to live with their Aunt Grace and Uncle Albert Arendsee in College Springs Iowa. In 1929, Martin re-married and Clara and Milo were brought back to Billings on the train by their new step-mother Sigrid.

Clara lived in Billings the rest of her life. She graduated from Billings High School in the Class of 1938 and went on to attend Billings Poly Technic and later Eastern Montana College. She worked for a short time as a secretary in a Billings insurance office and then, on March 8, 1941, Clara married Clifford G. Christensen. They celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary just four months before Cliff died on July 2, 2001. Clara was a homemaker and she and Cliff raised four sons in the Billings home that they built and occupied for over 50 years. They operated a trucking company for over 20 years before retiring. Despite suffering with congestive heart failure herself, Clara lovingly and admirably cared for Cliff in their home until 6 months before his death as he suffered the affects of Alzheimer’s disease and strokes.

Clara was a charter member and very involved in Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Billings. She served on the Church Council, taught Sunday school for many years and was involved in women’s circles, bible study and other groups. She continued to attend services and meetings until her health prevented it.

Clara never learned to drive a car, but her great passion was shopping and she always seemed to find a way to get from mall to mall and stores all over Billings. She was able to space the births of her sons over 20 years so she always had a driver until Cliff retired and took over in 1985. She especially loved shopping with her sister-in-law Phyllis. They could spend all day going from store to store and come home with a few small treasures and a great sense of accomplishment and joy.

Clara and Cliff especially enjoyed the mountains and spent most every weekend during the summer with family and friends in Nye (she shopped in Absorokee). She loved searching for and purchasing Roseville pottery, dishes, coffee cups and bone china tea cups. She had very nice collections which she displayed in her home. Cliff took an annual hunting trip each fall and Clara’s "hunting trip" came in the summer with a trip to Bozeman for the Extension Service’s Women’s Week. She was involved in Extension Homemakers clubs in Yellowstone County for many years, belonging to as many as two clubs at a time. She loved sewing, cooking, and baking and was a very talented cake decorator. She was an advocate for education in Billings and spent time volunteering as a class-room aide at Newman School. She also belonged to the Sons of Norway and square dance clubs.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Cliff, her brother Milo Grue, her father-in-law Anders and mother-in-law Emma Christensen, her nephews Ron Grue and Denver Christensen, brothers-in-law Duane Christensen and Bill Janssen, sister-in-laws Betty and Sherry Christensen, and her cousin Charles Grue.

She is survived by her sons and their wives; Richard and Carol, Larry, Rodney and Lynette, and Neal and Lynette. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Vince (Veronica) Christensen, Monica (Mike) Spini, Dustin (Pam) Christensen, Misti (Jake) Bearce, Angela Christensen, Andrea Christensen, Janna and Jared Kransky and Heather (Mike) Lear; her great grandchildren, Seth, Carson, Nora, Brandon, Dustin, Adryan, and Miyon. Her sisters-in-law; Phyllis Grue, Marge Christensen, Betty Janssen, and Tena Christensen and brothers-in-law; Sherwood and Harlow Christensen. Her nephews and nieces, Dennis and Sandra (the Grues) and Charlene, Linda, Kean, Paige, Kelly, Claudia, Jim, and Frank (the Christensens) and all of their husbands, wives, and children.

Clara also leaves behind a very special family who loved her and cared for her during the time she spent living on the Saint John’s Lutheran Ministries Campus. Her family is so grateful and has been both moved and touched by the concern, compassion and love for Clara from the staffs at the Vista and Saint John’s. Thank you all, we can never adequately thank or repay you, but we will never forget you.

In lieu of flowers, the family would wish that memorials be made in Clara’s name to the building fund at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 10^th Street W & St. Johns Ave, Billings, MT, for the purpose of installing an elevator. Clara had difficulty attending services and events during the last two years because she couldn’t climb stairs. We know that she would heartily agree and appreciate any generosity and kindness in her name that would make it easier for others to enjoy the fellowship of her church. Services will be at the church at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 5, 2007.