1.AltonNormanChristensen, born 31 Aug 1913 in Evan, Brown County, Minnesota; died 13 Sep 1965 in Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota, USA. He was the son of 2. HenryChristensen and 3. IdaMargretheJeppesen. He married (1) MildredEthelKlein 01 Nov 1937 in Marshall, Minnesota. She was born 05 Oct 1920 in Tracy, Minnesota, and died 03 Jan 1999 in Lakeside, Navajo County Arizona. She was the daughter of George Klein and Grace Ethel Minney.
Notes for Alton Norman Christensen:
Notes from Alton's mother Ida Jeppesen's scrap books...
Alton Christensen was one of two boys, in a class of 16, that graduated from Echo High School. He tied with Orville Bruss for salutatorian. Alton went to the grade school of Vesta, Minnesota.
Alton was drafted to World War II in December 1941 - just three days after his youngest son Jerome was born and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He did not serve however do to a murmur detected in his heart. (--per Joan Christensen Paulson 2005)
____________________________
Obituary on file:
"Former Resident Dies; Wife, Four Children Survive (Tracy, Minnesota paper 1965)
Funeral services for Alton N. Christensen of Brookings, brother of Cyril Christensen of this city, were held at 2 p.m. Sept. 16 from Rude's Memorial chapel in Brookings. Rev. Douglas Throckmorton officiated.
Mr. Christensen, who lived in Trach and worked for and managed the Snow's Hatchery here from 1930 to 1944, died in a Brookings hospital September 13, after a long illness. He was 52 years of age.
Alton Norman Christensen was born Aug. 31, 1931, at Evan, Minn., the son of Henry Christensen and Ida Jeppeson. He lived at Evan until 1930 when he came to Tracy, and moved to Brookings in 1944.
He managed the Snow's Hatchery here, but was owner and operator of the Brookings hatchery business until 1957. The past eight years, he worked at the college in Brookings.
He was married to Mildred Klein of this city on Nov., 1, 1937, at Marshall (MN). They were the parents of four children.
Mr. Christensen was a graduate of Evan high school and also attended Tracy Junior college. He was an avid fisherman and sportsman.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred, and son Jerome, both of Brookings. Another son, Alton R. Christensen of Denver; two daughters, Mrs. Merlyn Peterson, Goldendale, Wash., and Mrs. Loel Paulson of Huron; brother Cyril Christensen of Tracy, and nine grandchildren.
Interment was in the Greenwood cemetery, Brookings. Pallbearers were: Elmer Peterson, Les Knutson, Victor Holt, Clarence Anderson, Art Paulson and Delbert Billet."
____________________________
More About Alton Norman Christensen:
Burial: Sep 1965, Greenwood Cemetery, Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota
Cause of Death: heart disease
Certificate issued: 11 Mar 1966, Brookings County, Brookings, SD
Confirmation: 05 Jun 1927, St. Matthews Luthern Church in Evan, MN
Graduation: Echo, Minnesota
Social Security #: 477-07-6887, issued in MN
Notes for Mildred Ethel Klein:
The following is an excerpt from a letter written to "Dearest Sister and all" from Grace on June 27, 1922; not sure which sister she is writing to:
"Do come to Tracy and help us celebrate the 4th and 5th... Now to make Mildred a corn colored Mandarin dress, embroidered in black. She looks so cute in them, and feels so big with bloomers on. ... Heaps of love to all, Grace" Note: Mildred used to use the phrase "Love ya Heaps", must have gotten that from her Mom.
A beautiful letter written about Mildred by her granddaughter Ann Marie is on file. The following is a small excerpt:
"There is so much I am grateful for...it's hard to know where to begin....that Grandma lived as she wanted to live...in the beautiful mountains, feeding her birds, collecting angels on earth, making crafts with her friends and meeting them for coffee at the Pinetop Cafe, buzzing about town, and just being Grandma..."
____________________________
Obituaries on file:
"The Brookings Register, January 5, 1999, page A5
Mildred Christensen Bonacquista -- Lakeside, Arizona.
Mildred Christensen Bonacquista, 78, formerly of Brookings, died Sunday, Jan. 3, at her home. Her funeral is 2 p.m. Thursday at Rude's Funeral Home, Brookings. Burial is at Greenwood Cemetery, Brookings. Visitation is 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home."
"Sioux Falls Argus Leader, January 6, 1999, page 4D
Mildred Bonacquista, Lakeside, Arizona. -- Mildred Ethel Bonacquista, 78, formerly of Brookings, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at her home.
Mildred Klein was born Oct. 5, 1920, at Tracy, Minn. She attended Tracy High School.
She married Alton Norman Christensen on Nov. 1, 1937, at Marshall, Minn. They moved to Brookings, where they operated Snow's Hatchery. She wrote a column for the Brookings Register and worked in the lab for Veterinary Sciences at South Dakota State University. Her husband died September. 13, 1965.
She married Domenic Bonacquista on June 12, 1982. They lived at Apache Junction, Arizona, and moved to Lakeside in November 1994. Her husband died in 1995.
She is survived by two daughters: Jean Goedde of Goldendale, Wash., and Joan Paulson of Brandon; a son, Jerry Christensen of Pierre; three step-daughters: Rose Marie Denonme of Travis City, Mich., Nellie Mendoza of Rimrock, Arizona., and Angela Comins of Rochester, Mich.; 21 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; a sister, Alice Schroeder of Marshall, Minn.; and a brother, George (Klein) of Edmonds, Wash.
Services begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at Rude's Funeral Home, Brookings, with burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Brookings.
Visitation is 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home."
(Regrettable omitted was that she was preceded in death by both her husbands and one son, Alton Robert Christensen.)
____________________________
More About Mildred Ethel Klein:
Burial: 07 Jan 1999, Greenwood Cemetery, Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota
Cause of Death: natural causes; possible heart failure
Certificate issued: 03 Jan 1999, Lakeside, AZ
Occupation: Lab Technician at South Dakota State University
Social Security #: 468-26-3810
Marriage Notes for Alton Christensen and Mildred Klein:
Mildred was only 17 when she and Alton were married. Her father George forbade the marriage, so Mildred and Alton ran away to Marshall for the ceremony. George Klein showed up at the wedding, but did not stop it. He was the first one to sign their guest book at the wedding. Other guests that signed the guest book included:
(page 1) Mrs. S. L. Hammond, Miss Pauline Lang, Mr. Earl Klein and S. L. Hammond
(page 2) Mrs. Hy Christensen, Mr. Hy Christensen, Mr. Cyril Christensen, Mrs. Geo. Klein, Geo Klein, Mr. Earl Klein, Miss Pauline Lang, Floyd Persons, Alice Persons, Virginia Mae Persons, George E. Klein and Franklin E. Klein
The marriage certificate states the following:
This Certifies
that Alton Norman Christensen
of Lyon County and
Mildred Ethel Klein
of Lyon County were
United in Marriage
at Marshall
According to the Ordinance of God, and the
laws of Minnesota
On the First day of November in the
year of our Lord (19)37.
S. L. Hammond Presbyterian Minister
Witnesses: Earl Klein, Pauline Lang
newspaper clipping --
"Klein-Christensen
Miss Mildred E. Klein, youngest daughter of Mrs. George Klein, and Mr. Alton Christensen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Christensen, were united in marriage on Monday, Nov. 1st at Marshall by Rev. Hammond, pastor of the Federated Church of that city. The attendants were Miss Pauline Lang of St. Paul, and Mr. Earl Klein of Tracy, brother of the bride.
The bride wore a rust colored suit with brown accessories. Her flowers were bronze chrysanthemums. Miss Lang wore a blue suit with blue accessories and yellow chrysanthemums.
A twelve o'clock dinner was served at the home of the bride's parents to the immediate relatives followed by a reception. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen left for St. Paul where they will make their home."
More About Alton Christensen and Mildred Klein:
Death of one spouse: 13 Sep 1965, Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota, USA
Marriage: 01 Nov 1937, Marshall, Minnesota
Marriage date: Private
