Ruby Christensen

Ruby I. Christensen, 83, of Anita, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa.

Ruby Itol Harrison was born, the youngest of ten children, on November 14, 1925, the daughter of Leslie and Florence (Luxford) Harrison in Anita, Iowa.

The family homesteaded to Natrona, Wyoming, in 1925 where they lived on a ranch. Ruby attended grade school at Natrona Elementary School and then started high school in Casper, Wyoming, in 1939. The family returned to Iowa, where she attended Anita High School graduating in 1943.

On August 2, 1943, she married William H. Watson in Jackson, Minnesota. To this union five sons were born, Roger, Richard, Robert, Ronald and Rodney. Bill was electrocuted while working for Allied Engineering on November 5, 1956.

Ruby was united in marriage to Allen P. Christensen on May 28, 1959, and a daughter Janet was born to this union. Ruby was a member of the Church of Christ in Anita.

She worked as a postal clerk in Anita for nearly 30 years, retiring in 1985.

She loved all types of crafts, including ceramics and taxidermy. Ruby and Allen have enjoyed working on wood craft projects together during their retirement. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. She was also a long time member of the Anita Horseshoe Pitching Club, winning the women's state championship in 1967.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Allen Christensen, of Anita; her sons, Richard (Cheryl) Watson of Anita, and Rodney (Barb) Watson of Anita; her daughter, Janet (Marty) Mardesen of Anita; her grandchildren, Scott (Becky) Watson, Sarah Watson, Amy (Charles) Bryant, Jill (Tony) Gray, Lisa Munsey, Jennifer (Mike) Yerton, Shaun (Jeanette) Watson, April Watson, Christine (Jason) Huntrods, Kelly (Derek) Gurney, Jennifer Cameron (Humberto Figueroa), Ryan (Cathy) Mardesen and Ehren Mardesen; numerous great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Florence Harrison; her first husband, William Watson; her brothers and sisters; her sons, Roger, Robert and Ronald Watson; and her daughter-in-law, Jane Watson.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2009, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Anita, Iowa.

Visitation will be held Thursday, July 30, 2009, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., also at Hockenberry Family Care in Anita.

Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita. Following services at the cemetery the family invites you to join them for lunch at the Anita Community Center.

Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.