Eric William 'Chris' Christenson
Eric William “Chris” Christenson returned to the Lord on Dec. 11 2012.
A memorial service for Chris will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21 at the Crossroads Chapel in Bonners Ferry with Pastor Gayle Morman presiding.
Chris was born on Jan. 31, 1924, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Charles and Astrid Christenson. He graduated from Mepham Senior High School on Long Island New York and enlisted in the United States Navy in May, 1941.
Chris served throughout World War II as a radio operator and back seat gunner in TBF Avenger torpedo bombers and SB2C dive bombers, flying off a variety of fleet and escort carriers in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. By war’s end, he had flown some 500 combat missions.
It was at the end of the war, in 1945, when he met Betty Gail Hammond, who was also in the Navy. They were married on Sept. 14, 1945.
Chris and Betty settled initially in Slocum, R.I., where they raised two sons, Eric C. and Jan Christenson. Chris continued his Navy career, flying in a variety of aircraft off Navy carriers and deploying frequently from the East Coast, retiring as a senior chief aviation electronics technician in 1960.
The family moved west to California in 1961, when Chris took a position with Lockheed Missiles and Space at the West Coast Satellite Operations Center in Mountain View. Throughout this time the family continued to look for that ideal place, eventually finding it off Old Addie Road in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in 1968.
Chris was a dynamic and imaginative man who was never afraid to tackle any new challenge. He would try anything, from designing his own camper, raising beef cattle and running a sawmill, to radio electronics and computers.
His interests included amateur radio, wood working, the sawmill, computers, and of course the outdoors.
Both he and Betty loved the life they carved out for themselves on the ranch in northern Idaho. Chris was a hard driver and excellent problem solver who did not suffer fools gladly, and was the kind of man who made this country what it is today.
Chris was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Betty, and his son Jan Christenson. He is survived by his son Eric C. Christenson; grandsons, Eric W. Christenson II, Jan David Christenson; and Jeremy Christenson; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Christenson Duer.
He was also blessed with five great-grandchildren: Abigail Christenson, Lauren Christenson Duer, Erica Christenson Duer, Andrew Christenson Duer and Tyler Christenson.
The charitable foundation in lieu of flowers is as follows: The National Kidney Foundation, URL:kidnetut.org, Address: 3707 N. Canyon Rd, STE 1D, Provo, UT 34604
Family and friends are invited to sign Chris’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.