Kathryn Christensen

Kathryn (Kathy) Christensen, 70, of Avondale Arizona passed away June 11, 2025. Kathryn was born May 13, 1955 in Burley Idaho. She was the middle child of five daughters born to Doral Grant Christensen and Anna Ruth Jensen Christensen.

Kathy spent her childhood years on the family farm in Rupert Idaho. She took piano lessons from her mother, played the flute in the school band, enjoyed water skiing at Minidoka Dam, camping at Lake Cleveland and snow skiing at Pomerelle. She spent her summers working in the sugar beet fields. Kathy attended and graduated with high honors from Minidoka County high school. She went on to Ricks College for one year, where she entered and excelled in typing contests. She also enjoyed her ski classes at Grand Targhee. Kathy then moved to Provo/Orem Utah, where she worked for several years at Washburn Motors as an accountant. On January 1, 1985, Kathy started a new chapter in her life. She moved to the Dallas Texas area, still working as an accountant at several different corporations. While working as an accountant at Hughes and Luce law firm, she was recruited as a trainer with the software firm, Thompson Elite. She worked with this company for over 25 years and had the opportunity to travel all around the world.

Kathy loved photography. She first ventured out to photograph wildlife on an African Safari. While on an Alaskan cruise, she developed a strong love for bears and went on several excursions, including polar bears in Canada and black bears in Minnesota. Her love of photography then took to the seas, where she enjoyed snorkeling while photographing fish and sea turtles and various other sea life. She even did a dive with sharks.

As Kathy traveled with her career, and as a photographer, she took myriads of photos of the places she visited. She then spent her time documenting her travels with elaborate and detailed scrapbooks.

Kathy was extremely talented. She spent many years learning to create miniatures, and miniature room boxes and scenes. She also spent time making and painting porcelain dolls. She won many awards at the Texas State Fair for her creations. She worked under the name KayCee Creations.

We are in awe at the talents Kathy mastered. We have laughed about how the only thing she didn’t seem to have a gift for, was singing. She just could not carry a tune, stating so many times that, “but it sounded perfect in my head”. However, she did excel at bedhead and “don’t care bad hair days”. Kathy is already deeply missed for her friendship and fun, for her talents and creations, her tender emotions, and for just the amazing person she is. And yes Kathy, now you know, there IS life after this earth experience.

In October 2014, Kathy took on a new adventure and moved from Farmers Branch in Texas, to the even hotter desert of Avondale Arizona. By this time her passion for snow skiing was long ago suppressed and she seemed to prefer melting in the desert heat where there could never be snow!

While in Dallas, Kathy was a fan of, and followed the Dallas Stars Hockey team. When she moved to Arizona, her sister introduced her to a new sport, NASCAR! She quickly became an avid fan of the racing, and driver Kevin Harvick, in particular. She attended several races and collected a LOT of memorabilia. In fact, Kathy collected a lot of a variety of items, including Troll dolls, miniatures, glass marbles, big things, safari stuff, bear things and luggage as souvenirs! She had 52 large rolling suitcases at the height of her career. But do remember, she traveled the world. She even lived in Australia for 9 months for work, where she took a ride on a camel around Ayers Rock.

Kathy is survived by her four sisters, including Ellen Oates, Laurel Weaver Styles, LeAnn Palmer and Lyndell Van Mol, and 17 nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents, grandparents, and her brothers in law, Blake (LeAnn) Arvidson and Douglas (Laurel) Weaver.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints building located at 10168 South 1110 West, South Jordan Utah 84095. We invite you to share a memory or funny story with all as you visit with us.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to North American Bear Center in Ely Minnesota, 55731. Condolences can be sent to www.Thompsonfuneralchapel.com.