Elma E Christensen

Memorial services for Elma E. Christensen will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 14, 2014 at the Presbyterian Church in Orleans, Nebraska with Pastor Dave Irwin and Pastor Jean Clayton officiating. Inurnment will be in the Orleans Cemetery following the services at the church.

Elma Ervilla Christensen, 94 years of age, of Alma, Nebraska (formerly of Orleans) passed away on Friday, February 7, 2014 at the Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center in Alma. Elma was born on January 3, 1920 at her grandmother's family home southwest of Orleans in Harlan County, Nebraska, the second of five children born to Oliver Henry and Gladys Leona (Russell) White. Elma received her primary school at District #52 and then attended Stamford High School. She later received her G.E.D. in Colby, Kansas and in the years to come she took some college courses at Kansas State University in the Art Department.

In 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Elma moved to California and on June 10, 1942, she was united in marriage to Wesley Axel Christensen in Las Vegas, Nevada. To this union five children were born, raised, and sent to college: Delwin, Dane, Leona, Neil and Gayle. During Wesley's years in the military, Elma accompanied him whenever possible, until he was stationed in Europe. While Wesley was in Normandy during WWII, Elma worked as a clerk in a grocery store and upon Wesley's return, the couple resided on the family farm in Phillips County, Kansas. Elma enjoyed life on the farm as a homemaker and was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. In 1993, the couple relocated to Orleans. She was preceded in death by Wesley in December of 2011.

Elma had a special place in her heart for her art work, especially her water color and oil paintings. She also wallpapered for many family members. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Orleans and the American Legion Auxiliary. She also taught Sunday school for many years and was a 4-H leader.

Besides her parents, and husband; she was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Eli Lowry; two brothers: Donald White and his wife, Irene and Chester White and his wife, Wanda; sister, Pearl Bantam and her husband, Glen; and brothers-in-law: Dean Almquist, Raymond, Wayne, Lawrence, Virgil, and Darrell Christensen and their wives; and sisters-in-law: Arlene Kammerer, Mildred Wessels, Doris Smith, and their husbands.

Elma leaves to mourn her passing; her five children: Delwin Christensen and his wife, Carol Lowery of Lawrence, Kansas, Dane Christensen and his wife, Jill of Phillipsburg, Kansas, Leona Seibold and her husband, Ernest of Kaneohe, Hawaii, Neil Christensen and his wife, Terry of Apple Valley, California and Gayle Christensen and his wife, Barbara of Elbert, Colorado; 15 grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren; sister, Joyce Almquist of Axtell, Nebraska; two brothers-in-law: Roy Christensen of Edison, Nebraska and Don Christensen and his wife, Jean of Alma; sister-in-law, June Christensen of Topeka, Kansas; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

There will be no visitation, the family is honoring Elma's wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Elma's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home of Holdrege, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.