Joan Elizabeth Christensen

Mankato Mortuary
1001 N Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
(507)-388-2202


Joan Elizabeth Smith Christensen was born March 25, 1928, to Benjamin and Lula Smith in Bismarck, North Dakota. She passed away Tuesday evening January 3, 2017, in North Mankato, MN.

She and her parents, Ben and Lula Smith, along with her eight siblings, lived in a sod roofed log cabin, along the banks of the Missouri River outside of Hensler, ND. She spent her childhood outside, riding horses, rounding up cattle, and bossing her younger siblings.

Joan graduated from high school in Hensler, ND, in 1945.  She worked for the local REA office where she met Clare Christensen, who she married on July 1, 1948. Eventually, they moved to MN where their two children, James and Joyce, were born. While living with her family in Dover, MN, she attended Rochester JC to further her education. She received her AAS degree there.

Joan and her children moved to Mankato, MN, in 1963, where she enrolled in Mankato State College and earned her Bachelors and Masters Degrees. She started her career teaching biology at Mankato High School and transferred to the new Mankato East High School when it opened in 1973. Joan retired from ISD # 77 after teaching for 25 years.

Joan gave a lot of her time for various organizations in our community, including serving on the Mankato Police Reserve from 1972 to 1982, the UUFM Board of Directors for 18 years during the 1970’s and 1980’s, Treasurer for State Democratic Representative John Dorn from 1985-1995, and MN State Representative Kathy Bryneart’s Treasurer for 4 years. She also served on the MN Valley Federal Credit Union Board of Directors for 29 years.

Joan volunteered for 20 years with Jim Manske in the theater department at Mankato East High School. During that time, she also volunteered with the Merely Players for 18 years, along with arranging transportation and tickets for The Friends of the Guthrie for 10 years.

She felt very privileged to work with our US 1st District of MN Democratic Congressman Tim Walz and his staff for 10 years starting in 2007, as his first local office and accounts manager.  Joan was 78 years old when Tim first ran for office and she had many fond memories of the energy of the campaigns, the people she met along the way, and the many opportunities to provide input on exactly how things should be run.

She loved to play cards with family, listen to Garrison Keillor and Willie Nelson, eat at the Wheel, and visit with her sisters and brothers when they were all together in earlier years.

Joan has a brother Norman (Bonnie) Smith, Hettinger, ND, and a sister Nellie Smith Harris, Helena, MT, who survive her. She was preceded in death by siblings Mary J. Smith, Malcom Smith, Thomas Smith, Desa (Ruth) Smith Coleman, Ben Smith, and Rhoda Smith Stowe.

Joan is also survived by and was very proud of her children James (Janet) Christensen of Northfield and Joyce (Larry) Mann, North Mankato: grandchildren, John (Christy) Freeberg, Joel (Jessica) Mann, Lora (Eric) McCollum, Erik (Tyla) Christensen, Scott Christensen (Annie Himmelsteib)  and Matthew (Elizabeth) Christensen. She cherished her great grandchildren: Hayley (Taylor) Fast, Justin Freeberg, Garret Banwart, Bradley Mann, Allen Wiltse, Courtney Freeberg, Blake Christensen, Briann Banwart, Dylan Wiltse, Jaden Mann, Tyson Freeberg, Paige Christensen, Brandon Mann, Logan McCollum and Violet Christensen. She was so looking forward to Baby Girl Christensen, due January 2017.

Lorelei Erdmann, her good friend of 50 years also survives her, along with cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

The family would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Dan Anderson and his staff at the North Mankato Clinic for the caring and support provided to our Mother through the years.

We also thank Dr. Khan, the Hospitalist at ISJ Hospital, who worked so hard last May to relieve Joan’s unrelenting, severe pain. We would like to recognize Mayo Hospice of Mankato and RN Kristi Williams for your compassionate help and guidance. Thank you to the people at Monarch Meadows, especially her “Girls” who directly cared for her, along with Chef Barry and his kitchen staff and Chris, the maintenance guy.

A Memorial Service for Joan will be Sunday, February 5, 2017. at 3:00 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 937 Charles Avenue, Mankato, MN. Visitation will be from 1:30 until time of service at the church. Please join the family for food and fellowship after the service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made in Joan’s name to Mayo Hospice, Mankato MN, the Hensler, North Dakota Cemetery, any respectable Democratic politician, or to a worthy cause of your choice.