James Christensen

James Freeman Christensen was the 8th child born to Carl and Clara (Hansen) Christensen. He was born 9-26-23 in Redwood County, Sundown Township, Minnesota. Both of his parents died when James was very young and he lived with various family members in southern MN. At the age of 15 he moved to Wyoming where he briefly attended High School. He soon moved back to MN and attended school in Sleepy Eye, MN but because of living arrangements, graduated High School in 1942 from Mt. Lake, MN. In 1942 he moved back to Buffalo, WY where he met his future wife, Almida Lorreine Skurok. Alma's brother was married to James's sister, Adeline and that is how Jim and Alma met. In 1943 Jim joined the U.S. Army and did his basic training in New Jersey and advanced training in Abilene, TX. He was on a convoy to Scotland, to England and the German Blitz, to France Utah Beach, LeMans, Paris, Creil, Luxemborg Germany later to Antwerp-Belgium-Leige. He came home in September, 1945 and was honorably discharged from service. James and Alma were married on September 30, 1945 in the Big Horn Mountains near Sheridan, WY. James had several jobs early in their marriage including bartending at the Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, WY. He also contracted fencing and drove truck for the WY Hwy Dept. Between 1945 1977, James Alma lived in Buffalo, WY, and Comfrey, MN, where they farmed and Cloquet, MN where James worked in a paper mill and Alma managed a caf. In 1978 they moved back to Buffalo, WY and managed Camp Comfort, just west of Buffalo until they retired in 1988. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing horseshoes, dancing and playing cards. James is survived by his 5 children: Lynn (Doug) Moehrke of Buffalo, WY; Karen Schultz of Russellville, AR; Tom Christensen of Russellville, AR; Jan (Wayne) Nelson of Buffalo, WY; Steve (Becky) Christensen of Butterfield, MN. 9 Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren, and 1 Great-Great Granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife Alma in 2006, 5 sisters and 2 brothers and an infant son John Carl.