Claude Harding Christensen

Claude “Chris” Christensen, a dedicated and loving family man, passed away in El Paso, Texas on January 2, 2018 where family and friends had gathered for his final days. He was born February 15, 1931 in Ishpeming, Michigan to Charles Alexander Christensen and Tirzah Loretta Rowe, and spent a wonderful childhood in Champion, Michigan among the natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula. Following graduation with honors from Champion High School, he attended Northern Michigan University on a basketball scholarship. He was the first person from his town to attend college, and earned a degree in Mathematics and Education. He then joined the Navy and served 20 years as a Surface Operations Officer in both active and reserve units, retiring at the rank of Commander. Duty stationed him in Japan aboard the USS Bryce Canyon where his ship came under fire in the Korean War. He also loved his time spent in Norfolk, Virginia, aboard the USS Everglades where he led ship operations in the Mediterranean. Away from the Navy, Chris was employed selling business machines for Burroughs Corporation in Norfolk which once found him sharing a cab with the legendary Joe DiMaggio. This was followed by grocery sales to military commissary and exchange stores for V.H. Monette & Co, which transferred him to El Paso, Texas, in 1962. He soon switched his sales focus to cosmetics and retired from Revlon, Int’l after twenty years as Regional Sales Representative to military bases west of the Mississippi.

In 1964, he married his first wife, Rhodamarie Campbell Bickley who was a widow with four children, and they quickly added another four. In 1977, Revlon moved the family to Colorado Springs, Colorado. When his time at Revlon ended, he and Rhodamarie became Directors of numerous assisted living facilities throughout Colorado, Texas and the Pacific Northwest. Chris and Rhodamarie together turned every facility they managed into thriving and caring homes, positively impacting every life they touched. They lived the example of deep and abiding love. The two moved back to El Paso in 1999 after Rhodamarie was diagnosed with ALS, from which she subsequently passed away in 2004.

Chris worked for the Regency of El Paso as Executive Director for fourteen years. His coworkers at the Regency remember him as a lively guy, who could be seen at work singing, dancing, and conversing with residents. He was known to get a laugh out of everyone with his charming sense of humor.

He met his future wife, Bertha Marin, at the Regency and married her in 2006. He would spend the next few years traveling with his wife, visiting family and touring the country he loved so much. They loved going out on bike rides and taking long walks with their furry friend Juno.

Although Chris loved his adopted state of Texas, he would remain loyal to his home state until the end; in love with all things Michigan, he rooted for Michigan schools and was a dedicated Michigan State fan. He was a proud member of the Champion-Beacon-Humboldt Historical Society (www.cbhhs.org). Back in Texas, Chris was active as a longtime member of Trinity First United Methodist Church. He was an aspiring thespian that worked as a supernumerary in several operas. A lover of music, he was unable to contain his urge to dance if the right music was playing.

Chris’s love of his family was affectionately returned, and he touched the lives of many many people. He is survived by his second wife Bertha Marin, her children, Mari and Art; his eight children, Joe, David, Betsy, Steven, Karin, Robert, James, Jane, and their spouses, fourteen grandchildren (with one on the way), and thirteen great grandchildren. He is further survived by the family of his late brother Lowell Christensen: Toni, Drew and Dawn of Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as extended family.

The families of his eight children are:

Joe and Nancy Bickley of El Paso, Texas.

Their daughter and son in law, Laurel and Michael Arenivar, and their children Jenna, Maryn, Peter and Ilah.

David Bickley of Austin, Texas.

His daughter and son in law, Davona and Brian Goodwin, and their children Andrew and Daniel.

His son and daughter in law, Christopher and Amanda Bickley.

His daughter and son in law, Corinne and William McCloughan, and their children Aiden and Cora.

Betsy and Rhett Bosze, Sr. of Austin, Texas.

Their son and daughter in law, Rhett and Rebekah Bosze Jr.

Their daughter, Autumn Bosze, and her children Aislin, Robert, and Airiden.

Their son Jarrett.

Steven Christensen and his partner, Joe Carroll, Jr, of Reno, Nevada.

Karin and Tony Failla of Silverdale, Washington.

Their son and his partner, Cody Failla and Rose Navarro, and their children, Iliana and Noah.

Their daughters Ashlyn and Brynn, and their son Cole.

Robert Christensen and his wife, Golaleh Hassanzadeh of Brooklyn, NY, who are expecting their first child, a boy.

James and Alisha Christensen, of Mililani, Hawaii, and their daughter, Emilie.

Jane and Rudy Wood of Alamogordo, New Mexico, and their daughters, Kayla and Madison.