Oraleen Christensen Johnson, known to most as Chris Johnson, was a long-time resident of Las Vegas, Nevada since 1988. She passed away on January 25, 2020 in Las Vegas at the Mountain View Hospital from heart failure at the age of 77. She bravely fought the onset of ovarian cancer since it was discovered in 1989.
She was born in Richfield, Utah on August 19, 1942 to Fern and Oral Christensen. When she was 8 years old she tragically lost her father, a kind bishop and school superintendent, who was killed by a drunk driver. This pained her greatly. Her mother and three sisters LaRue, Romel and Mary moved to Salt Lake City. Her mom was blessed to marry Joesph Winzenried who loved Chris as his own. This new relationship allowed Chris to gain another sweet sister Margaret, and two stepbrothers Joseph and Howard.
Their home was just blocks away from the University of Utah campus where she later graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. She met and fell in love with Kent Johnson who was from Preston, Idaho. Chris and Kent were married and sealed in the Salt Lake City temple in 1964 and last celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this past September.
Chris also loved her in-laws, Ben and Dorothy Johnson. She had a special admiration and closeness with Dorothy. Later, Chris and Kent lived in Pocatello, Idaho while Kent finished his master’s in nuclear engineering and where their first child, Michael, was born. Thereafter, they moved to Eureka, California followed by San Luis Obispo where two more children were born, James and Kimberly. Other moves transpired taking them to Walnut Creek, California, Morgan Hill California, Destrehan, Louisiana, Signal Mountain, Tennessee, then eventually in 1988 to Las Vegas where they made their current home
While Kent worked on nuclear power and waste disposal projects, Chris taught a variety of elementary grade levels in Ogden, Utah and Pocatello, Idaho and then in Las Vegas. She taught for a total of 17 years. She was loved by her colleagues and she worked diligently to share her creativity, sweetness, and hard work with all of the students she taught. She continued with her own educational pursuits and earned her master’s degree from UNLV even during the midst of cancer treatments.
She loved going on walks, especially with her close girlfriends and going out to lunch with them to celebrate anything. Her smile and sweetness was magnetic. She loved reading and sharing what she learned. And, was able to bring fun and magic into the holidays. Her family was central in her life and she delighted in cooking huge meals, having BBQs, swim parties, playing games and “Cousin Conventions”. She cherished her pioneer heritage and loved doing family history.
Chris was a stalwart and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Despite her health issues she strived to minister and to bring joy to all she knew. She was proud of her family for also trying to be Christ like in their conduct and in their efforts such as feeding the homeless, serving missions around the world, and making eternal commitments in the temple.
She is survived by her three children; two wonderful daughters-in-law Erin and Jamie; ten grandchildren, extended family, and her loyal and always faithful husband Kent who was also her greatest health care advocate. For years he constantly found new paths to go down when doors would close, including getting her into a trial study at Cedar Sinai Medical Center that required driving each month from Las Vegas to Beverly Hills and back. Such treatment extended her life an additional 7 years with Kent’s involvement and the extraordinary loving care from the staff there and from Dr. Alain Mita and Dr. Monica Mita who mutually loved and adored her joyful and positive outlook on life, family, and God.
A viewing will be held on Friday, January 31, 2020, at the LDS Chapel located at 375 North Hollywood Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on February 1, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the LDS Chapel located at 375 North Hollywood Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada. Burial will be held at 12:00 p.m. at the Palm Eastern Cemetery in the Moroni Garden.
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