Richard Carl Christensen

Northview-North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
507-388-2288

Richard Carl Christensen, age 91 of Mankato and formerly of Willmar, Minnesota, died Saturday, July 22, 2017 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 29, 2017 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. service. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice. Northview – North Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Richard Carl Christensen was born June 17, 1926 to Soren Peter and Ruth Ann (Somers) Christensen in Bloomington, MN. He attended school in St. James. Richard was employed at St. James Creamery until he proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1947 in the South and West Pacific and Aleutian Islands. Richard was united in marriage to Ramona Meyer on March 23, 1950 in St. James, MN. They farmed in the St. James and Lake Lillian areas until 1968 when Richard graduated from Northwest Electronics Institute in Minneapolis and was employed by 3M in New Ulm. He then owned and operated a cleaning business in Willmar from 1973 until selling and retiring in 1992.

He was a former member of Calvary Lutheran Church, VFW, Eagles, American Legion, and Senior Citizens Club, all in Willmar, and was a current member of Christ the King Lutheran Church and VFW Post 9713 in Mankato and American Legion Post 518 in North Mankato. Richard enjoyed reading, gardening, dancing, playing cards, and time with friends and, above all, his family. He will be remembered as a caring, kind, and compassionate man.

Richard is survived by his wife, Ramona; three children, Ruth (Thomas) McNamara of Mankato, Mary (Jerry) Griffin of Minnetonka, and Paul (Jenifer) Christensen of Westborough, MA; daughter-in-law, Kathy Christensen of New Ulm; 18 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; brother, Pete Christensen of St. James; sister, Jean Knudson of Kimberling City, MO; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Steve; infant daughter, Sharon; three sisters, Joyce Sternberg, Edith Sowers, and Evelyn Dexheimer; and brother, Norman Christensen.