Christine Gertrude Lilly Nelson Johnson was born September 15, 1928 to Elmer Iloyd Nelson and Gertrude Ida Willet Nelson in Hallock, Minnesota, just east of the family homestead in Orr, North Dakota. She joined her Lord God Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in McKinney, Texas.
Christine was preceded in death by her late husband, Kenneth Wayne Johnson and brothers, Elmer I. Nelson Jr. and Iver W. Nelson.
She is survived by one brother, Dell Russell Nelson; children, Susan K. Frampton (George), Sheryl J. Dolan (JD), Mark K. Johnson (Robin), and Sally C. Tarvin (Mark); eight grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She grew up loving animals, riding horses at family farms, working for her parents at their General Store, learning home, work skills and values she used to build a very full life. Serving as class president, graduating top of her class, and being the head cheerleader, Christine proudly represented her high school in Ellendale, North Dakota. With confidence, she set out for the big city of Minneapolis to continue her education at Fairview Hospital College of Nursing. After earning her B.S. Degree in Nursing, Christine met Kenneth Wayne Johnson from Granite Falls, Minnesota, a young recently discharged Lt JG Navyman. They married February 5, 1950 in Ellendale, North Dakota, sharing life together for over 68 years in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Fort Smith, Arkansas and their beloved, Cripple Creek, Colorado.
Being a lifelong Lutheran, and Episcopalian when in Colorado, her life was filled with love for God and family. She and Ken were blessed with raising a family of four children and many pets, domestic and wild. Christine fostered her love for service through her nursing career, volunteering in church and serving on various community boards and activities. She loved entertaining, teaching Sunday school, playing games, participating in sports, always learning, and enjoying life with smiles and laughter. They were honored to have traveled and explored 49 of the states. Falling in love with the mountains of Colorado, she and Ken envisioned, designed, and built their cabin outside of Cripple Creek, naming it Sun Ridge. Their greatest trips included Alaska, hiking through the Grand Canyon, and Washington D.C. Their lifetime adventure to the Scandinavian countries of each of their ancestral homelands included traveling with good friends.
Chris’s great love for music and dance kept her going all her life. She and her beautiful smile will forever be loved, greatly missed and always remembered.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Sunday afternoon, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
A private committal service will be held at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
Memorials may be sent to Cripple Creek District Museum, 510 Bennett Ave. Cripple Creek, CO 80813 or St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 367 E Carr St., Cripple Creek, CO. 80813 or a charity of your choosing.