Raymond Christensen

Raymond Christensen, 99, of Grand Island died Friday, May 10, 2013 at St. Francis Medical Center.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, at messiah Lutheran Church, Seventh and Locust Street. The Reverend Bill Pavuk will officiate. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at North Logan Cemetery, 10 miles north of St. Paul on Highway 281 with Reverend Carolyn Hellerich officiating.

Visitation will be Monday from 5:00 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church.

Memorials are suggested to Nebraska Children's Home Society, North Logan Cemetery Association or Messiah Lutheran Church.

Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of serving the family.

Raymond was born March 12, 1914, seven miles west of Wolbach, the son of Andrew and Christiana Christensen. Ray was raised and received his education in Hall, Greeley and Howard counties, graduating from St. Paul High School in 1932.

He married Rhoda Sonderup on February 16, 1941 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Howard County. Ray and Rhoda loved to go to dances with their friends, went on cruises and also traveled to many countries.

Ray farmed for many years, worked for the Sugar Beet Factory, Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant and Tilley's Sprinklers.

Ray and Rhoda moved to Grand Island in 1970. He did independent sprinkler installation and service. He also clerked many sales and auctions until failing eyesight forced him to retire. They moved to Primrose Retirement Community on October 1, 2012, and enjoyed their apartment and all the residents and staff they met there.

Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Rhoda of Grand Island; six children and their spouses Marlys and Mel Sems of Grand Island, Judy and Rick Hiser of Menifee, CA, Janet Blair of Napa, CA, Cindy and Pete Luth of Lincoln, Sherri and Brent Karley of Austin, TX; a son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Rosanne Christensen of Wolbach; 23 grandchildren and their spouses, Mark Sems, Brian and Kim Sems, Debbie Doll, Michelle and Mike Kneale, Marty and Amy Sems, Stacia and Steve Pagani, Jennifer and Joshua Dugan, Malania and Dan Iman, Shad and Jessalyn Hiser, Christy and Tent Fischer, Melissa and Derek Lehnecke, Jessica and Alex Paredes, Jackie and Sean Gellatly, Amanda Christensen, Joshua Christensen, Andrea Christensen, Katie Christensen, Allison and Brad Van Boening, Chris Luth, Amber Karley, Rachel Karley, Evan Karley, Braden Karley; 27 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clarence, Harry and Chris, sisters, Myrtle and Edna; a daughter and son-in-law, Lana and Burel Doll; a son-in-law, Robert Blair and a great grandson, Jacob Kneale.