Joan Arlene (Larson) Christenson, age 82, of Lowry City, Missouri passed away, peacefully, at her home, Saturday, May 23, 2026.
Joan was born on September 13th, 1943 at her parent’s home in Aurora Township in Steele County, Minnesota; her two grandmothers attending. She was the 4th, in a family that would eventually count ten children. They were a happy, close-knit family, and they maintained that closeness all throughout their lived. They knew hard work; they also knew how to play and to laugh.
Joan attended a one-room country school, through the 8th grade, then attended Owatonna High School, in Owatonna, Minnesota. She graduated, in 1961.
Her mother wanted her to further her education by going to “Secretarial School.” However, by that time, she was “Head-over-heels in love with a boy!”
Joan and “that boy” (Russ Christenson, a boy she met in Sunday School, when they were nine years old) were married on June 16th, 1962.
Russ and Joan went on to have five children; a daughter, Kari Lea, was born on September 10th, 1963. Kari Lea was very premature, and she passed away a few hours after she was born. A son, Keith Barrett, was born on August 26th, 1964. He was also premature, and he passed away on August 31st, 1964. Kari and Keith are buried, side by side, in the Pontoppidan Lutheran Church cemetery, in Lemond Township. They went on to have three more daughters; Stacy (1967), Amie (1970) and Megan (1976). Stacey and Megan became teachers, and Amie is a physician. All three are among the best in their chosen professions.
Joan was a very kind and loving person. She was always among the first to introduce herself to visitors at church. She spent 40 years, working as a waitress and, when a family came into the restaurant with their children, she had ways of making the kids feel special and “grown up.” Joan loved her daughters and she adored her seven grandchildren, and they adored her back. They called her, often, and visited when they could. Every call and every visit ended with the words “Love ya, Gram!”
Now, Joan’s work, here on earth, is done, and she rests safely in the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Memorial Services for Joan were held Thursday, May 28, 2026 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Clinton, Missouri with Pastor Brock Stockland officiating and special music by Leslie Lower. A private family burial will take place in Minnesota at a later date.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
