Bernard F. Christenson, age 85, of Fairview, Texas passed into a new life with his savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, September 20th, 2006. Known by his family and friends as "Chris" or "Ben", he was born on December 4th, 1920, in Waterville, Kansas. He graduated from Waterville High School in 1937 and in January 1941, he joined the U.S. Army. He was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, received a Purple Heart, was wounded again later the same year and received a second Purple Heart. He was discharged in 1945 with a rank of Staff Sergeant. He attended North Texas State University in Denton, Texas and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949 and a Master of Science degree in 1950. He taught vocational education in the Dallas Independent School District for 31 years. He was a master craftsman in woodworking and built homes and furniture for pleasure. He was an active church member, loved gardening, especially Iris, and enjoyed traveling, playing cards and dominoes, crossword puzzles and reading westerns. He and his wife, Polly, lived in Irving, Clifton, Georgetown and Fairview, Texas, and had vacation homes in Apache Junction, Arizona and Lake Vallecito, Colorado. He is survived by his wife, Polly of Fairview, Texas; his son, Max and wife, Debbie Christenson of Odessa, Texas, and their three sons, Adam, Brett and David; her four children, Pam and husband, Allan Knott of Irving, Texas, Philip and wife, Sharon Geiger of Houston, Texas, Nancy and husband, Duane Springfield of Allen, Texas and Sarah and husband, Brett Ratliff of Dallas, Texas; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; sister, Helene and husband, Albert Neilson of Manhattan, Kansas and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Anna Christenson, his brother George, and his first wife of 44 years, Juanita McCain Christenson. Ben was loved by all who knew him for his kind and gentle spirit. We thank God for putting such a wonderful, loving and Christian man in our lives. The family is grateful for the care shown by Debbie Larson and the Visiting Nurses Association and by Howard Lyons who helped care for Ben in his final days. Interment will be held at the Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m., Friday, September 22, 2006, at First United Methodist Church of Allen with Rev. June Franck, Dr. Howard Ramsey and Rev. Kory Knott officiating. The family will receive friends from 7:00-9:00 p.m., Thursday at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Allen, 601 S. Greenville Avenue, Allen, Texas 75002 and the National Parkinson Foundation www.parkinson.org.