Our amazing, larger than life husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Keith S Christensen, died on his 72nd birthday in Salt Lake City, Utah, from complications following pancreatic cancer surgery. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Born on December 7, 1950 in Delta, Utah, to Derral and Barbara Christensen, the second of six children. He grew up in Delta working on his family's farm. Keith graduated from Delta High School in 1969. He attended Brigham Young University where he met Amy Hathaway. They married and together had 3 children. Keith graduated from BYU earning a BS in both Business Management and Finance before moving on to study law at the University of Puget Sound, receiving his Juris Doctorate. Upon graduating from law school, he returned to Salt Lake City and spent the next decade practicing real estate and natural resource law. In 1988 he left his legal practice to pursue other business opportunities. Keith was involved with extensive real estate developments throughout the Salt Lake and Park City areas. He and a partner purchased Top Stop Convenience Stores where they owned, operated and grew stores throughout Utah and Idaho for the next 34 years. He also founded Christensen Industries, a high-tech manufacturing firm that specializes in products for the aerospace and defense industries.
Keith believed in service and in giving back to his community. He served 8 years on the Salt Lake City Council and also chaired the Salt Lake Redevelopment Agency. He was a former volunteer chairman and board member of Western Petroleum Marketers Association, Utah Air Travel Commission and the Salt Lake City Department of Airports. He was heavily involved with Salt Lake City's efforts to host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, serving on both the Salt Lake Olympic Bid Committee as well as the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee. Keith was selected by the Governor of Utah to serve as a Trustee on the Olympic Ethics and Open Records subcommittees to help restore public trust to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. He spent ten years coaching for the Highland District Ute Football Conference and was also President of the organization for 2 years. He was a member of the University of Utah Health Science Advocates and a former trustee of the Nature Conservancy Board for the State of Utah.
Keith's lifelong passion for aviation motivated him to earn his pilot's license even before receiving his driver's license at the age of 16. He held commercial, multi-engine, instrument and rotor wing ratings. He also had multiple jet type ratings. From 2014 to 2018 he served as the President of the Embraer Jet Owners Association. He loved piloting his own aircraft and shared his passion with family and friends. He enjoyed donating his time and resources to fly non-emergency medical transportation missions for Angel Flight.
He met the love of his life, Kristina (Peterson), in 2000 and they married on June 8, 2002. They were an incredible team who built an amazing life together, traveling the far corners of the world. They fell in love with a beautiful spot in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, where they built a home that they graciously shared with friends and family. He loved to golf and cherished the friendships that he made at the Salt Lake Country Club and Querencia. Family, friends, hard work, and creating unforgettable experiences were the hallmarks of Keith's life.
Always one to meet a challenge head-on, he beat stage 3 colon cancer in his 40's after his doctors gave him only a 10% chance of survival. When asked about the difficulties in life, he made this profound statement that has influenced our entire family, "We all have challenges. I suppose they make us stronger. Surgery and chemotherapy gave me a perspective about life that will forever shape my thoughts. Life is very fragile and - as we all know - uncertain. Be good to those around you, even those you don't know, and live a little every day."
He will be missed dearly by those who were lucky enough to know him. He was our rock and his untimely passing has left a huge hole in our hearts.
Keith is survived by his wife, Kristina; children, Ryan (Michelle) Christensen, Lisa Lovoi, Rob (Andrea) Christensen; step children, Jake Shak, Clancy (Benji) Bar-David; brother Mike (Chris) Christensen; sisters Joyce (Mike) Barney, Ann (Neil) Dutson; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Tom, sister Susan, and granddaughter Samantha.
Keith's family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at St. Mark's Hospital for their valiant efforts in his care. Visitation will be on Friday, December 16th from 12:00-1:45 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3401 South Highland Drive, Millcreek, Utah. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. For those unable to attend, there will be a live stream available at www.wasatchlawn.com under Keith's obituary.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Angel Flight West or the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
