Christopher "Chris" L. Tinjum

Christopher "Chris" L. Tinjum, age 48, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, died Sunday, December 29, 2024.

Christopher Lee Tinjum was born to Ralph Tinjum and Carolyn Storstad on January 4, 1976, in Grand Forks, ND. He was baptized in Middle Grove Lutheran Church, Manvel, North Dakota and confirmed in University Lutheran Church, Grand Forks. He attended school in Grand Forks graduating from Grand Forks Central High School. Chris later attended Northland Community & Technical College for a Diploma/Certification in welding. He was employed by Tri-Steel Manufacturing Company as a welder, INNES Construction Inc., JTC Inc. as a welder and general construction worker. 

Chris met Holly Ust in Grand Forks. They were married on September 21, 2007, in University Park. They later divorced in February of 2018. Together they had three children: Erika Tinjum (2002), Dylan Tinjum (2005), and Tyler Tinjum (2006); he was also blessed with a step-daughter, Shelby Gonzalez ((Curtis) 1997). Along with their four children, they raised a dog “Blacky Wolf” (2002)—truly mans best friend. As a pet lover, Christopher took in another dog after Blacky Wolf passed—“Buddy Dog”, who had been with Chris since 2019. 

Chris loved UND “Sioux” hockey, attending games frequently with his father and children. He was fortunate to attend the 2008 Men’s NCAA Frozen Four in Denver, CO. 

Chris enjoyed quality time with his friends and family, bonding over shared interests. He often planned fishing and camping trips with his children—a tradition he had with his father growing up; trips fishing off the coast of Oregon with his Uncle John, Glacier National Park in Montana, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, and many weekends at Cass Lake and Pine Lake in Minnesota. 

Rock music was a huge aspect of Chris’ life. His favorite song “for thirty years”, he would say, was “Wish You Were Here”, Wish You Were Here, by Pink Floyd. At every opportunity, he would purchase concert tickets for rock bands, always getting an extra or two to bring along his daughters. Together, they saw around two dozen artists live in concert—the most recent involving a trip with both his daughters to Minneapolis, MN, to be able to see Green Day in August 2024; This was the second time attending a Green Day concert for Chris and Shelby, as they had the opportunity many years prior. Chris and his daughters had arrangements to see Disturbed in March 2025. 

Chris is survived by his father, Ralph Tinjum of Grand Forks, ND; daughters, Erika Tinjum and Shelby (Jacob) Gonzalez; grandson, Finley Gonzalez; sons, Dylan Tinjum and Tyler Tinjum; Ex-wife, Holly Tinjum of Grand Forks, ND; aunts, Ruth Currid of Irving, TX, Evelyn Jensen of South Padre Island, TX; Uncle, Maynard Tinjum of Rockford, IL; and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Carolyn Storstad; uncles, Archie Tinjum, John Tinjum, and Wayne Tinjum; Aunts, Aneta (John) Tinjum, and Janice (Maynard) Tinjum; and his beloved dog Blacky Wolf. 

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Amundson Funeral Home in Grand Forks, North Dakota.