Kathy Christenson

Kathy Ann Christenson, age 61, of La Salle, Minnesota died on August 6, 2024, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato surrounded by family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

A visitation will be on Monday, August 12, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James and will continue on Tuesday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at East Sveadahl Lutheran Church. Funeral service will be held at East Sveadahl Lutheran Church on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 11:00 am. Interment will be at the La Salle Lutheran Cemetery in La Salle. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Kathy was born February 23, 1963, to William and Marcella (Nelson) Nordgren in Olivia, Minnesota. The Nordgren family moved to Saint James in June of the same year. She graduated from Saint James High School in 1981. Kathy had many lifelong friends from school and many memories with neighbor kids. During Kathy’s Junior year of high school she met a cute farm boy in choir. After passing a few notes, and a couple of motorcycle rides later, they started dating and it was fate. On March 13, 1982, she married Bryon Christenson at Augustana Lutheran Church in Saint James. Together, they raised three children, Benjamin, Peter and Erin.

After marriage Kathy and Bryon moved to their farm place near La Salle where they worked together as farm husband and farm wife until the kids were old enough to take over Kathy’s jobs. Since then, she made sure her family never skipped a meal, and they were always taken care of. Kathy was a town girl, but she took on the roll of farm girl and fully embraced it.

Kathy’s kids were her world. She always felt so fortunate to have all three kids and their families so close. Getting to see them every day was always a highlight. Whether she was making meals, giving rides or lending a listening ear, she was always happy to help. Kathy was so proud of her family and made sure they knew it.

She loved many things but being “Farm Grandma” was one of her favorite titles. Her granddaughters, Stella and Lucy, meant the world to her and she loved getting to spend time with them. Kathy always made up fun little songs for them to sing and loved to take them outside on adventures.

Kathy was kindness. She had a sense of humor that was unmatched, and her laugh and smile could light up a room. Kathy always had a big heart when it came to animals. Roxy was her trusty canine companion for many years. Her most recent friend, Fluffy the cat, will miss her so much.

In Kathy’s free time, she enjoyed reading, bird watching and flower gardening. A huge passion of Kathy’s was quilting, and she often spent her days in her sewing room working on a new project. Bryon and Kathy enjoyed traveling and went on many trips with wonderful friends.  They also spent a lot of their time camping together over the years. Whether they were home, camping, or on a trip their best time was spent drinking coffee together every morning.

Kathy wasn’t only a parent to her kids. Many of her kids’ friends thought of her as Mom too and she thought very highly of all of them. With that being said, Kathy put in a lot of thought when it came to her pallbearers. Her pallbearers are all friends of her kids which is only fitting for how involved in their lives she was. Adam Munsterman, Dillon Melheim, Nathan Frederickson, Jeff Fischer, Alyssa Paczkowski and Lindsey Eliason gave Kathy much joy as she watched them grow up with her own children.

Kathy was actively involved with her church. She was in the church choir, church council, taught Sunday School, Sunday School music and was a member of the WELCA council. She was also on the Godahl Recreation Board.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Bryon; children, Benjamin (Becky) of La Salle, Peter (Emily) of La Salle, and Erin (Aaron) Oldenburg of Saint James; granddaughters, Stella and Lucy; sister, Peggy (Phred) Young; aunt, Pattiann Nordgren; parents-in-law, Sam and Marie Christenson; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Nancy Nordgren.

Kathy’s legacy will live on through her family and all that knew her. She will be missed beyond measure.

“Take the Trip, Buy the Shoes, Eat the Cake.”