- Date Of Birth: May 21, 1941
- Date Of Death: September 15, 2020
- State: Idaho
Dad was born Garth Lavell Christensen on May 21, 1941. He was the 7th child of 8 surviving children that our Grandmother Christensen had. Dad grew up in a very poor family, and they were constantly moving while my grandfather was trying to make ends meet for the family of six boys and two girls. When dad was working in a sweltering hayloft towards the end of summer in the White Rocks area of Utah, he happened to see a man in a uniform get out. That man was an Army Recruiter. Dad threw his pitchfork down, jumped down from the hayloft and signed up on the spot. He never finished high school, but he led men and women in extreme hospital conditions, fine tuning how to heal soldiers from white phosphorus and from napalm while stationed in Japan.
Years later at his retirement, he would be offered a position with Salem General Hospital at a pretty nice salary for the time. He turned it down. I asked him why. He said “Son, after everything that I have lived through and have seen, I just want some peace.” It was the first time that he had let me have an inkling of what he had been through.
Dad was married to Danielle Bacquelin. Their marriage was short, but he had four children, Kurt, Carolyn, Scott and Mike. He later married Sharon “Shay” Kiely who became the love of his life and constant companion in everything that they did.
Dad straightened out his life and participated in the Atonement process with his Savior.
Dad was moved to Idaho Falls on August 23rd, in order to live with his oldest son, Kurt, and to comfort him with his failing health.
He is survived by his loving children, Kurt (Linda) Christensen of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Carolyn (Rosanne) Truegift of Springfield, Oregon, Scott (Kelly) Christensen of Casselberry, Florida, Mike (Kim) Christensen of Longwood, Florida, Mark (Pam) Urben of Salem, Oregon, Mitch (Patty) Urben of Salem, Oregon, Brian Urben of Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and Kevin (Rhonda) Urben of Salem, Oregon.
