Shirley Marlene Christian

**You may view the livestream of the service with this link:

https://www.youtube.com/live/54PHDm4gE1s?feature=share

Shirley Christian, 88, formally of Walhalla, ND, and Grand Forks, ND, joined her heavenly Father March 25, 2023 at her home at Touchmark Retirement Community in Bismarck where she had lived since August, 2022.

Shirley Marlene Christian was born on July 7, 1934 in Langdon, ND to Mabel (Johnson) and Arthur Amundson. She grew up in a Scandinavian community in Hope Township of Cavalier County, west of Walhalla. As an only child, she grew up with numerous cousins living in that area. Shirley only spoke Norwegian prior to attending a one room country school. After completing 8 years there she transferred to Walhalla High School and graduated in 1952. She continued her education at Augsburg College and was later employed as a bookkeeper.

Shirley met her husband of 37 years, Roy Christian, at a fundraising event. Roy later joined the Air Force and they wrote letters for 3 years while he was stationed in Japan. Shortly before his discharge, they were married on October 16, 1954 in Walhalla, ND.

Shirley and Roy spent their married life farming in the area where she grew up. They raised their 3 children on the family farm where Shirley worked alongside of Roy driving tractors, combines and milking cows. She was affectionately known in the area by her CB handle of “Mother Massey”. Shirley also enjoyed cutting hair for the family and her neighbors.

In 2001, ten years following Roy’s death, she moved to Grand Forks where she became friends with numerous ladies who enjoyed going to events together and playing a variety of card and board games.

Throughout her life she was very active in the churches she attended in Vang, Walhalla, and Grand Forks. She sang in the church choirs, and at funerals and other events. She was very involved with the fall Lefsa making at Sharon Lutheran and the spring lefsa making at Sons of Norway.
She was an avid supporter of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, where she encouraged them in their education. She attended their recitals, concerts, and theater performances as well as many many sporting events. All of her grandchildren and great grandchildren will remember her for singing and teaching them the songs “Jesus Loves Me” and “I Love You A Bushel And A Peck”. She also enjoyed watching the Sioux and Bison games on TV.

While being a very humble individual, Shirley had her opinion and offered her advice to her daughters telling them never to learn how to milk a cow (something she did not enjoy), and if you ever marry a farmer, have supper sent out to the field rather than have them coming in after dark and then having to feed and clean up after them. For many, her greatest skill was her lefsa, flatbread, and cinnamon rolls, known as Grandma rolls.

Shirley remained very active in her church until the Covid period as well as her recent fight with cancer. Her faith was very important to her which included  her daily devotions. She also enjoyed playing cards, jigsaw puzzles, and listening to music.

She is survived by her 3 children, Jann Belanus, Kathy (Doug) Tehven, Tim (Sandy) Christian; 8 grandchildren, Sara (Chris) Mees, Jennie Belanus, Greta (Micheal) LeDoyen, Danica (Steven) Allard, Brent (Dianna) Tehven, Greg (Christy) Tehven, Mandy (Seth) Klostreich and Matthew Christian; 14 great-grandchildren and one on the way; sisters-in-law, Nancy Christian and Helen Dahle and brother-in-law and sister-in- law, Gene and Kathy Johnson.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Mable and Arthur Amundson; husband, Roy Christian; Father and Mother-in-law, Ed and Martha Christian, son-in-law, Robert Belanus; great-granddaughter, Ella Jo Tehven; grandson-in-law, Cody Holte and several aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as brothers and sisters-in-law.

**Memorials may be directed to the family and will be given to: Vang Cemetery, Park River Bible Camp, Sharon Lutheran Church and Walhalla Lutheran Church.

A memorial service will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 15 at Sharon Lutheran Church in Grand Forks with visitation one hour prior to the memorial service in the church.