Betty Irene Christensen

Betty Irene Christensen, the daughter of Jens K. and Lena Hansen Jensen, was born August 4, 1920, at her parents’ home in Audubon, Iowa and died January 2, 2012, at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 91 years, 4 months, and 28 days. Betty was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. She attended Audubon Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1938. Betty then attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. Following college Betty was employed by her father at Jensen Grocery and Dry Goods in Audubon, Iowa. On August 13, 1943, she was united in marriage to V.E. “Barney” Christensen at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. They moved to Sacramento, California for three years while Barney was in the service. After he was discharged they returned to Audubon. Two children Marletta and Don were born and Betty was a homemaker taking care of their young family. In 1955 they moved to Exira, Iowa. Once the children were raised Betty then was employed as the Exira School Board Secretary until she retired. Barney died June 1, 2000. Betty has continued to enjoy their home in Exira. Betty was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira and a member of the Lydia Circle. Betty loved to do counted cross stitch and won numerous awards at many southwest Iowa fairs. She enjoyed playing dominos, playing cards, and putting jig saw puzzles together. She also was an avid reader. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Virgil “Barney” Christensen; her parents; her sisters Elna and husband Ed Steen, Helga and husband Leonard Jensen, Thelma Jensen, Ruth and husband Leonard Lumby, Esther Schlotzhauer; her sister-in-law LaVerla Stolper and special family Glee and wife Elaine Christensen. Survivors include her children Marletta and husband Ted McKercher of Omaha, Nebraska, Don and wife Nancy Christensen of Atlantic, Iowa; her grandchildren John McKercher, II and wife Wendy of Bellevue, Nebraska, Katie McKercher of Omaha, Andrea and husband Alan Woodruff of Cumberland, Iowa, Anthony and wife Rachael Christensen of Lewis, Iowa. Her great grandchildren Campbell McKercher of Bellevue, Chance Woodruff, Craig Woodruff, and Ellisa Woodruff all of Cumberland, Grant Christensen and Keena Christensen both of Lewis; her brother-in-law Dan Stolper of Pascal, Washington, special family Gay Bannister of Atlantic; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Thursday evening, January 5, 2012, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Friday, January 6, 2012, at 10:30 A.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa.