Viola Christensen
November 7, 1934 - June 1, 2017
Gregory, South Dakota

Viola (Pastian) Christensen was born November 7, 1934 in Dallas, SD, the twelfth of thirteen children born to Henry and Mollie (Faatz) Pastian.

Vi grew up on a farm southwest of Paxton, SD. Vi graduated from Gregory High School in 1952. While attending high school, she lived with Bill and Evelyn Rasmussen and worked at the Tasty Shop. On July 29, 1952, she married Lyle Christensen at the Congregational Church in Gregory. Lyle was a sergeant in the US Marine Corps. The couple resided in Santa Anna, CA where Lyle was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro until his discharge in October of 1953. The couple returned to Gregory where Vi was a homemaker and loved cooking, baking, and decorating cakes. She was an active volunteer in scouting, church, and Rebekah Lodge activities. Vi worked with Lyle in the family business, Christensen Sales and Service, from its founding in 1965 until her death. Vi took care of many children over three generations and all are still considered as part of the family.

Vi passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at the Gregory Memorial Hospital in Gregory at the age of 82.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her granddaughter, LaDawn Christensen; six brothers: Harry, Ruben, Robert, Raymond, Floyd, and Ivan; and six sisters: Blanche Horton, Vera Mansheim, Agnes Thomas, Elizabeth Pastian, Florence Werner, and Irene Pastian.

She is survived by her husband Lyle, children Steve (Karen), Platte, SD, Rod (Louise), Edina, MN, Brad, Gregory, SD, and Todd, Gregory, SD; four grandchildren: Eric (Lisa) Christensen, Stephanie (Bill) Entringer, Brian (Lauren) Christensen, and Katie (Casey) Haensel; four great grandchildren: Hailey Larson, McKenna and Collin Entringer, and Harper Christensen.

Burial
Tuesday, June 06
11:45 AM
IOOF Cemetery of Gregory
County Road 6 Gregory, SD 57533