Mildred Christopher

Our dear mother, Mildred "Millie" Olson/Christopher, 93, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. A celebration of Millie's life for family and friends is scheduled in Phoenix, AZ on May 3, 2014, from 12:30 -3:30 pm where she lived at Mountain Park Senior Living Community Center, 4475 East Knox Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85044. She will be missed. A graveside service is set for 3:30 pm June 7, 2014 at the Almont Cemetery, Almont, North Dakota. Millie was born in 1921, at home on Bluff Dale Ranch, near Almont, N.D., to Jonathan and Emilie Sorum Pederson. Mildred was one of 6 girls growing up on the farm and going to school in Almont. She graduated from college at Dickinson State in 1942 and received her Master's degree from Western Oregon University in 1982. She pursued a career in teaching all grades including special education in North Dakota, Washington, and Oregon before retiring in 1985. Mildred married Everett Olson in 1940. They spent several years in the military before returning to Almont. They raised four boys Stuart, Charles, Dale and Wade on the farm in Almont. Everett had many occupations including construction, trucking, and bus routes as well as running the Farmers Supply store in Almont. Mildred taught school in the country school houses containing all grades while in Almont. In 1966, the family moved to Seattle Washington and then to Albany Oregon where Millie taught school in Harrisburg Oregon teaching special education as a result of getting her Masters in Education. In 1985 Millie married Kenneth "Ken" Christopher, who had known her from high school in Almont. They moved to his home on Flathead Lake in Polson MT. They both enjoyed summers in MT and then visiting family and friends and sites of interest all across America in their various 5th wheels and Motor homes during the 20 years they were together. Ken passed away in 2009 and Millie moved to Phoenix to be closer to family. Survivors include two children, Stuart Candy Olson Phoenix AZ; Wade Robin Olson Laguna Hills CA.; a sister June Hove Shelton WA.; 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great- great grandchild. She is preceded in death by two husbands, Everett Olson and Ken Christopher; her parents Jonathan & Emelie Pederson, 2 children, Charles & Dale; 4 sisters, Eleanor Hillemann, Dagmar Stoeckel, Lillian Peterson and Ruth Britton; and 1 great grandchild, Liam Murray. The family suggests remembrances be made to the LoveIAM foundation created for children with heart defects in memory of her great grandchild Liam Murray by contacting Daradee Murray 222 W Desert Flower Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85045 480-242-4430 or go to the web site at http://www.loveiam.org/

Mildred Christopher

April 6, 1921 - April 12, 2014