Katheryn Christensen

Age 97, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2013. Katheryn was born in Kenna, New Mexico. She is survived by her children, Allen (Kay), Jay (Carole), Stevan (Penny) and Dorthy Pullen (Jim); grandchildren, Allen and John Christensen, Sally Stock, Kathy Wild, Terry Trantham, Beverly Duncan, Barbara Harris, Karen Truelock, Larry Christensen, Dan, Kevin, Scott and Eric Christensen, Lisa Guggino; 37 great-grandchildren and numerous great-great grandchildren, and sister, Mildred Corkum (Corky). Katheryn was preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, Dan; and her sister, Irene Lanier. The family wished to express their gratitude to Dr. Kim, Alfred Bhatti, Mary Corona, Beehive Senior Care staff, niece Donna Christensen and nephew Dan Decker. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at FRENCH - Wyoming. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Katheryn's name to the church of your choice.Katheryn was born February 15, 1916 in Kenna, New Mexico to Oscar and Johnny Parker. She had a very fulfilling life of love and adventure.At age three, she and her family traveled on the Chili Line through Santa Fe, Chama, and Dulce to Farmington. She grew up there with her sisters, Irene and Mildred, around Kirtland, NM in a farming/ranching family and had many stories of those years. The family struggled during the depression years, and when she graduated in 1933, college was not an option. She went to work at Toadlena Trading Post on the Navajo Reservation and took care of the young children of the trader whose wife was in ill health. Katheryn married Dan Christensen on April 26, 1934 and spent the next 16 years living on the Navajo Reservation at Rock Point, Pinedale, and Gallup, the wife of a trader, and raising four children, Allen, Dorothy, Jay and Stevan. The family moved to San Diego in 1942 where Dan worked to aid the war effort at Consolidated Aircraft. The family returned to Pinedale in 1943. The family moved to Albuquerque in 1950 and occupied the home on Morningside Dr. until 2011. They sold the stores on the Navajo Reservation in 1953, and went into the western wear business (Dan's Boots and Saddles) and in 1956 bought Dulce Trading Company on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation at Dulce. They made lifelong friends among the Navajo and Apache people.In 1960, they sold the Dulce store and started a life with summers at Platoro, Colorado with horses, fishing, and hunting. Winters were spent mostly at Bahia Kino, Mexico fishing. They made many friends with fellow snowbirds. They also made some good friends among the Seri Indians of that area. Their experience trading with the Navajos and Apaches served them well as they traded with the Seris for iron, wood carving, jewelry and baskets. Katheryn was an avid gardener and never happier than when she was working in her garden. She was a great cook and famous for her enchiladas, homemade bread and Mexican wedding cakes.Katheryn lost Dan in 2009 after a wonderful 75 years filled with family, love, traveling, and adventure. She passed with daughter, Dorothy, holding her hand on March 2, 2013 after having spent four nice years at Beehive House Senior Care. She read the newspaper from cover to cover and remained very sharp until the very end.Her family and friends loved her dearly and will miss her greatly.