Ulla Christensen

Ulla Riber Christensen passed away peacefully on March 9, 2023. Ulla was born in Aarhus, Denmark, where she met a flirtatious young man named Jorn Christensen, who became the love of her life. They were married in 1956 and immigrated to the United States shortly thereafter. They became citizens of the United States and had seven wonderful children. They lived in many places over the years including Minneapolis, MN; Coon Rapids, MN; Fort Dodge, IA; Cedar Rapids, IA; and Reno, NV. Ulla was a wonderful, amazing, strong, and resilient woman. Ulla was a devout member of the LDS church and held many church callings throughout the years. She worked for years on our family's genealogy history and was able to trace our family tree back to the mid-1800's in Europe. She was also privileged to be called on a senior mission for the LDS church and served as a missionary for 18 months in the Salt Lake City Family and Church History Center, assisting others of Scandinavian heritage making use of her experience researching church and government birth/marriage/death records and utilizing her native Danish language. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years, but as the kids grew older, she began to work outside the home as a lunch lady for the Cedar Rapids, IA school district, and at a care center assisting pediatric patients. When her husband, Jorn, had a stroke that left him disabled, she became his full-time care giver for the next 21 years, while working part time at Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids, and later as a lunch lady for the Reno, NV school district. Ulla loved to knit and crochet, blessing her extended family and friends with numerous hand-made sweaters, hat, and scarves, including an Afghan for each of her grandchildren. She loved watching her grandkids and great grandkids grow up. Ulla is survived by her sister, Tove; children, Annette (Tim), Belinda, Connie, Deanna (Joe), Eldon (Astrid), Felicia and Gwen (Scott); numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law, Knud (Dana), Paul (Laura), and Joyce; along with many nieces, nephews, and their children. Ulla was preceded in death by her husband, Jorn; grandson, Tom; brothers-in-law, Tonny and Ole; three sons-in-law, Franc, Kevin, and Ron; and a great-great grandson, Vincent. Those wanting to pay respects to both Jorn and Ulla, Celebration of Life: 12:00 ' 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Prairie Oak Lodge at Wanatee Park in Marion, IA, formerly Squaw Creek. We would like to give a special thank you to the Hospice of Mercy staff for their wonderful care and to Felicia for opening her home to care for our mother the past few months.