Neil Pratt Christenson

Surrounded by his loved ones, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully at home Thursday, July 11, 2024. He lived an exemplary life, a legacy full of devotion and unwavering testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Neil was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 4, 1931, where he lived until the age of nine. The family then moved to Southern California and lived for seven years before returning to Utah where he graduated from Granite High School. He continued his schooling at the University of Utah in pre-law before being called to serve a 2½ year LDS mission to Denmark. Upon his return home he was immediately drafted in the Korean War (Armed Forces) stationed in Germany for two years. After his service, he married his eternal companion, LaVerle Sorensen in the Salt Lake Temple on September 6, 1956. Together they raised their three children in the Mount Olympus Cove area.

He started his professional career as a Mutual Funds salesman. He became an account executive at E. F. Hutton, and then founder, partner and president of three different corporations. He excelled as an investment advisor and lived up to his motto: “Honesty Builds Business!”

Neil dedicated his life to serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He had a close and personal relationship with the Savior and was completely devoted to the teachings of the church. He was called to be a Mission President in the Illinois, Chicago Mission along with his wife and three children from 1975-1978. He was privileged to preside over 600 missionaries and loved going out teaching with them. When he returned home he was called to serve on the General Church Missionary Committee.

Neil and LaVerle subsequently served an additional three full time missions: a CES mission at the University of Florida, a Humanitarian/Public Relations mission in Jakarta, Indonesia, and a Family History Center mission in Nauvoo, Illinois. They also dedicated time and served a Utah S.L. Regional Scandinavian speaking mission and at the Utah State Prison.

Neil spent his entire life serving in church callings. He loved being Bishop in the Holiday 16th Ward, and a host and guide on Temple Square for over five years. His never ending effort was to serve and reach out to help those in need both spiritually and financially. He was a master teacher and taught at the LDS Business College, Westminster College and as a presenter at the Brigham Young University Symposium. He was a faithful home teacher to the end.

Hobbies included skiing, golfing, tennis, boating at Lake Powell, caving and rock collecting. He loved gardening and personally cultivated a 6,000 square foot garden. He had a passion for the mountains and nature and was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman. He especially liked hiking Lake Blanche and Mt. Olympus. His greatest passion and love was missionary work and family history. He was a scholar of the gospel and his scriptures were always within arms length.

He loved his family and always put them at the top of his list. They were what mattered the most to him. He always loved playing with his grand and great grandchildren. His family will ever be grateful for the plan of happiness and the knowledge that we will be together again.

Neil is preceded in death by his parents, Sheldon and Mary Christenson and two brothers, Delbert and Richard. He is survived by his loving wife, LaVerle and their three children, Carlene (Scott) Dastrup, David Christenson (Katherine), and Cindy (Mark) Tenney, his 13 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and his brother, Robert Christenson.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 20, at 11:00 am at the Little Cottonwood Chapel, 1160 East Vine Street, Murray, Utah. Prior to the funeral services a viewing will be held at the same location from 9:30-10:30 am. There will also be an evening viewing on Friday, July 19 at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek, Utah from 6:30-8:00 pm.