June Christensen Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

June West Christensen spent 96 great years with her friends and family before passing away on March 2, 2020. She was born at home on January 24, 1924 in Pleasant Grove, Utah to Junius A. and Ida Holindrake West. She was the fourth of 6 children: Eugene, who died of pneumonia during the flu epidemic in 1919. Louise, William (Bill) and her younger brother Robert (Bob). June spent her first five years in Pleasant Grove. In 1929 her father went to work for the Bank of American Fork, so they moved to a 2-story house on Main Street. The home was only a block away from her Grandmother and Grandfather Holindrake and as a girl she would walk down the lane to play in the granary on their farm. She started her education at the Harrington School in American Fork. Her mother, who had been a schoolteacher while her father served a mission in Germany, taught her to read, write, and do math. After two weeks in school, June was advanced from the first to the second grade. At this time, she was introduced to music by her cousin Nina, who gave her piano lessons. During the depression her father went to work for the Bank of Pleasant Grove, so the family returned to Pleasant Grove to live. When June started Junior High, her parents bought her a secondhand violin for $11.00 and she started taking lessons. She would play in the school orchestras from then on. During High School, June sang with a trio which was kept busy singing in church, school, and civic programs. June played a violin solo, Intermezzo, at her High School graduation program in the spring of 1941. After High School she attended Brigham Young University, where she played 1st violin in the symphony. She was also part of a trio that sang and played their violins. They would perform at assemblies and were also paid to entertain at special dinners and gatherings. She lived at Amanda Knight Hall and belonged to the Y.C.’s, a service organization and Cesta Tie, a social unit. June preformed in the Janie Thompson productions and took part in the Field House Frolics. In one performance to the song “You Would Be So Nice to Come Home To” the young men and women, coming from opposite sides of the stage, were paired together. June was partnered with Odell Christensen, who would become her husband a year later on April 19, 1944 in the Salt Lake Temple. June went to work for her father in the Pleasant Grove Bank, while Odell finished his degree in accounting. After graduation, the couple, with their oldest son Lars, moved to Oakland CA, where Odell studied and prepared for the CPA exams. June loved California and walking with Lars along the beach and playing in the parks. Sue and Karen would join the family in California. After graduating, the family returned to Orem Utah, where Odell took a position in the Auditing Division of US Steel. During the next years Judy, Mark, Paul and Janis would be added to the family. The Orem years were busy, fun, family years. Odell traveled a lot, especially in the summer, so along with the job of mothering 7 children, the job of irrigating (ditch irrigation!) a large garden and yard often fell to June. Each summer she would bottle hundreds of quarts of peaches, pears, cherries and beans and dry apricots on the rooftop. She made her own round brown bread in empty tomato juice cans. She was also the PTA president and spent countless hours preparing for the big Halloween Festival each year. With all this, June found time for other interests as well. She continued with the violin and played in the Utah Valley Symphony. She also liked to sing and was a member of several choruses. June and Odell sang beautiful duets and were often asked to perform. They also liked to have a good time each month with the “Dancing Friends”, a social dance group. It was the time of women’s clubs and she participated in the Orem Women’s Club, Paideia Sorosis, and Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. Then a surprise, after 23 years at Geneva Steel in Orem, Odell was transferred in 1972 to head the Eastern Area Audit Division in Pitts. PA. The family, at this time consisting of only Paul and Janis, moved to Upper St. Clair, PA. It was a very big change, but mom took it with her typical good humor. She would learn to love living in the East. June always wanted to become a nurse and had worked hard to complete the college credits needed to apply for nursing school. She had just received her acceptance letter to the Utah Valley College Nursing School when they received word of the transfer. June was never heard to complain. In Pittsburgh, she took courses to become a Medical Assistant and went to work for the office of Dr. Garofoli. The Medical office loved June. While living in Pittsburgh, June and Odell discovered bowling. They would continue to bowl until they could no longer pick up the ball. Odell once sent a bowling ball flying through the wall when practicing his swing in the hallway. They were consistently among the best scorers in their leagues. In 1983 Odell retired and the couple moved back to Utah. June once again became an active member of the community and many organizations. She served 6 years on the board of the Utah Republican Women. In every calling she ever held, she served with her whole heart and soul. She would spend countless hours in preparation. In 1989 Odell helped to build their dream home on the crest of a beautiful hill in Orem. It was there they hosted many family events and had the opportunity to have time with their grandchildren. They would live there together for 23 years. As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, June served in ward and stake callings in both the Relief Society and Primary. She also served in scouting and in the Young Women Organization. As a blazer leader she proudly wore the blue skirt, yellow blouse and neck scarf each week. Her favorite calling was the nursery leader. In every calling she ever held, she served with her whole heart and soul. She spent countless hours in preparation. In 1997 June and Odell were called to serve a mission in the Oklahoma City Oklahoma mission, and became grandparents to many elders and sisters. After Odell passed away and with June’s eyesight failing, she moved to River Meadows Assisted Living Facility in Alpine Utah where she was a friend and light to everyone around her. June was always positive and happy. She sang her way through life and will be greatly missed. She is survived by her children: Janielle (husband Lars Christensen, deceased), Susan (Ralph Ryser), Karen (Bruce Haslem), Judy (Keo Chai, deceased) (David Keller), Mark (Wendy Gideon), Paul and Janis (Joe Fetters). June and Odell were also blessed with 31 grandchildren and 51 great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 14th, at 11:00 am, at the Alpine Utah West Stake Center, 327 South Long Drive, Alpine, Utah, where a Viewing will be held prior to services from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Interment in Orem City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary.

June Christensen

January 24, 1924 - March 2, 2020

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