Marion Christensen

Kiowa-Marion D. Christensen, the son of Frank D. Christensen and Minerva and Birdie (Southerland) and Leopold Schmidt, was born March 22, 1925 and passed away July 14, 2016. Marion was born in Thomas, Oklahoma and moved to Mutual, Oklahoma as a freshman in high school. He graduated from Mutual in 1943 and immediately joined the war effort in World War II. He was stationed in England and made thirty-five missions over Germany as a ball-turret gunner in a B-17. He was S/SGT Marion D. Christensen of the 8th Army Air Corp. He returned home after completing his thirty-five missions and married his high school sweetheart, Roberta Lea Griffith, on May 6, 1945.

Marion started college at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma the following January where he studied pre-med. He also started his family during this time. Dennis and Kathleen were born in Enid. He finished his education at Oklahoma University of Medicine in Oklahoma City. In 1953 after graduation they moved to Kiowa, Kansas where they completed their family with Sherrill and Steven. Marion has served the town of Kiowa from 1953 to 1994.

He was preceded in death by brother, Deon Christensen; sister, Caroline Rice and granddaughter, Christine Jackson.

He is survived by his wife, Roberta, of the home; son, Dennis Christensen and wife, Shirley of Kiowa, Kansas; daughter, Kathleen Gilchrist and husband, Larry of Seiling, Oklahoma; daughter, Sherrill Jackson and husband, Duane Jackson of Kiowa, Colorado and son, Steven Christensen and wife, Carolyn of Kiowa, Kansas; ten grandchildren, Greg Gilchrist, Debra Seevers, Amber Morris, Renee Reed, Mike and Evan Jackson, and John, Cody, Mark and Amy Christensen; thirteen great grandchildren, Carsen, Nolan and Greyson Reed, Caleb, Miranda and Kaitlyn Gilchrist, Amber Vaverka and Jasmine Seevers, Sheridan and Wyatt Mooris, Cadence and Delaney Jackson and Gavin Christensen; one sister, Dee Snyder and husband, Trigg of Enid, Oklahoma; brothers, Robert Christensen and wife, Mary Beth and Tom Christensen and wife, Gina of Mutual, Oklahoma. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral service will be Monday, July 18, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Kiowa with Rev. Keith Fink officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery at Kiowa. Memorials may be given to Kiowa United Methodist Church, Kiowa District Hospital or Kiowa VFW through the funeral home.