Obituary for Martin Raymond Christensen
Martin Raymond Christensen, 84, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2021. Martin was born May 2, 1936 in Manassa, CO, the first born to Edward and Lora Christensen.
Martin spent his life in the San Luis Valley, calling Manassa home. He was a 1955 graduate of La Jara High School where he was an outstanding basketball player. After graduating he went to Toledo, OH to meat cutting school. He then took a job at Safeway in Woodland Park, CO. This is where he met and married his sweetheart, Barbara Weaver. They were married March 16, 1956 and were later sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple. When his father passed away, Martin moved back to the valley where he took his fathers position as a lineman at San Luis Vallley REA, now known as SLVREC. This is where he would retire after 36 years all while running the family ranch. He and Barbara also raised 6 children during this time.
He loved the mountains where he ran cattle on the Bancos Cattle Association for many years. As a young man, he would often spend summers tending other ranchers’ cattle on the mountain ranges.
Martin loved horses, and was a great horseman. He broke many horses and even was a jockey in his younger years. He was a member of the Manassa Saddle Club and served as a board member for many years. Martin loved to take his kids and grandkids to the mountains to ride alongside him, where they too would learn to love horses and cows by his teaching. His favorite place to be was on the back of a horse in the mountains.
One thing that he especially enjoyed was hunting and fishing with his family and many friends.
Martin was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints where he held many callings.
He is survived by his children Randy (Holly) Christensen of Cedaredge, CO, Eddie (Kristy) Christensen of La Jara, CO, Rusty (Linda) Christensen of Alamosa,CO, Ronnie Christensen of Monte Vista, CO, Rhonda (Todd) Barr of Manassa, CO, and Ryan (Lori) Christensen of Monte Vista, CO; his siblings Willie Christensen, Cleann Brost, Tommy Christensen, and brother in law John Binder; his 15 grandchildren and 30 ½ great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.
Martin is preceded in death by his wife Barbara, his parents, his sister Coleen Binder, and granddaughter Amanda Kerns.
A visitation will be held at the Rogers Family Mortuary in Manassa from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday January 21, 2021. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday January 22, 2021 with burial to follow in the Manassa Cemetery. To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com
Rogers Family Mortuary in Alamosa is in care of the arrangements.
Martin spent his life in the San Luis Valley, calling Manassa home. He was a 1955 graduate of La Jara High School where he was an outstanding basketball player. After graduating he went to Toledo, OH to meat cutting school. He then took a job at Safeway in Woodland Park, CO. This is where he met and married his sweetheart, Barbara Weaver. They were married March 16, 1956 and were later sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple. When his father passed away, Martin moved back to the valley where he took his fathers position as a lineman at San Luis Vallley REA, now known as SLVREC. This is where he would retire after 36 years all while running the family ranch. He and Barbara also raised 6 children during this time.
He loved the mountains where he ran cattle on the Bancos Cattle Association for many years. As a young man, he would often spend summers tending other ranchers’ cattle on the mountain ranges.
Martin loved horses, and was a great horseman. He broke many horses and even was a jockey in his younger years. He was a member of the Manassa Saddle Club and served as a board member for many years. Martin loved to take his kids and grandkids to the mountains to ride alongside him, where they too would learn to love horses and cows by his teaching. His favorite place to be was on the back of a horse in the mountains.
One thing that he especially enjoyed was hunting and fishing with his family and many friends.
Martin was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints where he held many callings.
He is survived by his children Randy (Holly) Christensen of Cedaredge, CO, Eddie (Kristy) Christensen of La Jara, CO, Rusty (Linda) Christensen of Alamosa,CO, Ronnie Christensen of Monte Vista, CO, Rhonda (Todd) Barr of Manassa, CO, and Ryan (Lori) Christensen of Monte Vista, CO; his siblings Willie Christensen, Cleann Brost, Tommy Christensen, and brother in law John Binder; his 15 grandchildren and 30 ½ great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.
Martin is preceded in death by his wife Barbara, his parents, his sister Coleen Binder, and granddaughter Amanda Kerns.
A visitation will be held at the Rogers Family Mortuary in Manassa from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday January 21, 2021. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday January 22, 2021 with burial to follow in the Manassa Cemetery. To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com
Rogers Family Mortuary in Alamosa is in care of the arrangements.