Michael was born in Newport, Nebraska, to Ernest Merle and Ruth Lucille Christon on June 27, 1939. As a small child Mike lived in several places due to his dad's occupation: Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, and Idaho. After settling in Idaho he lived in Boise for a short time. The family then moved to Eagle, Idaho. In that time he learned the lessons of hard work by farming, milking, and working at a mink ranch. At age ten, he took care of his baby brother Gary while his Mom recovered from cancer. He graduated from Meridian High School in 1957.
After graduation he moved to Seattle; worked for Boeing Aircraft for two years. He returned to the Boise valley; worked for Ace Company Inc., first as an apprentice, later a machinist -then foreman of the night shift.
Mike joined the National Guard in 1957 in hopes of going to helicopter school but those plans were changed and after moving back to Idaho. He served in the Army Reserves for 10 years. He was in the Special Forces Unit graduating from Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia. It was challenging jumping out of airplanes along with the rigorous training. He requested to be sent to Viet Nam but in those days if you had children your request was denied.
He married Mary J. Hicks on November 22, 1961. Mike and Mary would of celebrated 50 years of marriage on 11-22-11. They were blessed by two wonderful children, Craig Michael and Sandee Michele Christon. The light of Mike and Mary's life was the birth of their grandson Tim Michael Hiatt born October 17, 1992.
Mike's career path continued with the knowledge of machines working for King & Priest Machinery in sales, supervisor for RL Drake Company in the Punch Press shop, all this background landed him a job for R.C. Bigelow Tea Co. as plant manager for 7 years in Boise. He was then promoted to Corporate; at that time he was responsible for three plants: Fairfield, Connecticut, Louisville, Kentucky, and Boise, Idaho. Later Mike and Mary were business owners and partners in CSP INC.
In retirement Mike and Mary were self-employed agents for American Packaging of Columbus, Wisconsin coordinating packaging, art work & etc. for our customer Josh Kelly Senior buyer for the Idahoan located in Lewisville, Idaho. Thank you to Dennis Denure, Mary Marty and Josh Kelley-the best co-workers you could ask for.
His hobbies were restoring pick-ups, steelhead fishing, travel, dogs by proxy (his wife being a lover of these four legged friends). He loved reading the comics, calling them the educational page.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents: Ernest and Ruth Christon; sister-in-law, Judy Christon; grandsons: Ben and Noah Hiatt.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Christon; son, Craig Christon; daughter, Sandee Christon Hiatt and her husband, Brian; grandson, Tim Michael Hiatt; brothers: Charles, Phil (Linda Kay), Gary (Geri); sister, Nancy Christon Jones(Ken) ; many nieces and nephews and his wonderful friends.
We want to thank the excellent doctors who cared for him: Dr. Anne Poinier, Dr. Sam Gibson, Dr. Karin Lindholm, Dr. Roberto Barresi, Dr. Karl Schultheiss. Thanks to all of the family and friends who walked the journey with us through his illness.
A celebration of Mike's life will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 6th at the Boise Friends Church, 7751 Goddard Rd., Boise. Services are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian.
Memorials may be made in Mike's name to St. Jude' Children Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-0050.
Published in Idaho Statesman on July 3, 2011
Michael was born in Newport, Nebraska, to Ernest Merle and Ruth Lucille Christon on June 27, 1939. As a small child Mike lived in several places due to his dad's occupation: Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, and Idaho. After settling in Idaho he lived in Boise for a short time. The family then moved to Eagle, Idaho. In that time he learned the lessons of hard work by farming, milking, and working at a mink ranch. At age ten, he took care of his baby brother Gary while his Mom recovered from cancer. He graduated from Meridian High School in 1957.
After graduation he moved to Seattle; worked for Boeing Aircraft for two years. He returned to the Boise valley; worked for Ace Company Inc., first as an apprentice, later a machinist -then foreman of the night shift.
Mike joined the National Guard in 1957 in hopes of going to helicopter school but those plans were changed and after moving back to Idaho. He served in the Army Reserves for 10 years. He was in the Special Forces Unit graduating from Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia. It was challenging jumping out of airplanes along with the rigorous training. He requested to be sent to Viet Nam but in those days if you had children your request was denied.
He married Mary J. Hicks on November 22, 1961. Mike and Mary would of celebrated 50 years of marriage on 11-22-11. They were blessed by two wonderful children, Craig Michael and Sandee Michele Christon. The light of Mike and Mary's life was the birth of their grandson Tim Michael Hiatt born October 17, 1992.
Mike's career path continued with the knowledge of machines working for King & Priest Machinery in sales, supervisor for RL Drake Company in the Punch Press shop, all this background landed him a job for R.C. Bigelow Tea Co. as plant manager for 7 years in Boise. He was then promoted to Corporate; at that time he was responsible for three plants: Fairfield, Connecticut, Louisville, Kentucky, and Boise, Idaho. Later Mike and Mary were business owners and partners in CSP INC.
In retirement Mike and Mary were self-employed agents for American Packaging of Columbus, Wisconsin coordinating packaging, art work & etc. for our customer Josh Kelly Senior buyer for the Idahoan located in Lewisville, Idaho. Thank you to Dennis Denure, Mary Marty and Josh Kelley-the best co-workers you could ask for.
His hobbies were restoring pick-ups, steelhead fishing, travel, dogs by proxy (his wife being a lover of these four legged friends). He loved reading the comics, calling them the educational page.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents: Ernest and Ruth Christon; sister-in-law, Judy Christon; grandsons: Ben and Noah Hiatt.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Christon; son, Craig Christon; daughter, Sandee Christon Hiatt and her husband, Brian; grandson, Tim Michael Hiatt; brothers: Charles, Phil (Linda Kay), Gary (Geri); sister, Nancy Christon Jones(Ken) ; many nieces and nephews and his wonderful friends.
We want to thank the excellent doctors who cared for him: Dr. Anne Poinier, Dr. Sam Gibson, Dr. Karin Lindholm, Dr. Roberto Barresi, Dr. Karl Schultheiss. Thanks to all of the family and friends who walked the journey with us through his illness.
A celebration of Mike's life will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 6th at the Boise Friends Church, 7751 Goddard Rd., Boise. Services are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian.
Memorials may be made in Mike's name to St. Jude' Children Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-0050.
Published in Idaho Statesman on July 3, 2011
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