Bessie Mae Christianson

Bessie Mae Christianson, age 96, passed away peacefully in her Castle Rock home of 46 years on October 18, 2024. She was born on October 3, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois, to Thomas William and Bessie Mae (Staples) Timmins, who had roots in Southern Indiana and Kentucky.

Bessie was raised in Chicago, Illinois and later, Midlothian, Illinois, where she was a graduate of Thornton Township High School. After graduating, she started taking the train to Chicago to work as a secretary for Hartford Insurance Company. Her future husband, Carl J. Christianson also took the train and the two were married on May 13, 1950. They celebrated 63 years of marriage together before his passing in 2013. After getting married, Bess devoted much of her time to homemaking and raising their five children.

The Christianson family first moved to Colorado in the early 1960’s. After a 5 year stint in Ohio, the family returned to Colorado in 1970 and to Castle Rock in 1978.

Bessie always had a kind and encouraging word for those that touched her life and she devoted many years to caring for her son, “Chip” and her husband, Carl, after his cancer diagnosis. She went to work at Wal-Mart in Castle Rock, where she stayed for 24 years, before retiring. Long time Castle Rock residents will always remember her smiling face on register two. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Castle Rock, and a member of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association. Over the years, Bessie enjoyed family time, skiing, pottery, cooking, gardening, and traveling the world with her husband and children.

Bessie leaves behind her children Bob Christianson and wife Mary, Deborah Ventrello, Nancy Rankin and husband Ken, and Carl “Chip” Christianson; grandchildren Cari Kite, Dawn Nelson, Christopher Rankin, and Ashley Frates; great grandchildren Brad Nelson, Lane Nelson, Tobias Frates, and Timber Frates; as well as many loving nieces and nephews. Bess was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carl, son James William Christianson, and her sister Dorothy VanGinder.

A celebration of life for Bessie will be held at a later date. Private interment of Bessie’s remains will take place at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Castle Rock.