White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Eloise Marian Christensen, 92 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Thursday, March 29, 2012, at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence.  She was born on September 20, 1919, in Buchanan County, near Quasqueton, Iowa, the daughter of Gus and Martha Adelia (Hart) Bergstrom.  She graduated from high school in Rowley, Iowa, with the Class of 1937.  On May 11, 1940, she and Clyde C. Christensen were married at the Baptist Parsonage in Independence, Iowa.  He preceded her in death in 1969.  Mrs. Christensen worked in the Occupational Therapy Department at the Mental Health Institute in Independence for 31 years.  She retired in 1986.  Mrs. Christensen was a very active member of the First Baptist Church in Independence.  She also volunteered with Cedar Valley Hospice and local blood drives.  She was an early riser and loved to walk and garden, both indoors and outdoors.  She also enjoyed traveling with friends.

Mrs. Christensen is survived by 2 daughters, Connie (Jim) Bastian of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Kay (Doug) Fairchild of Sebring, Florida, and 1 son, Kenneth (Becky) Christensen of Independence, Iowa.  She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 2 sisters, Audrey (William) Salow and Deloris Lynch, both of Independence, Iowa.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, 1 sister, Orma McCombs, and 2 brothers, Orville Bergstrom and John Bergstrom.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the First Baptist Church in Independence with Dr. David A. Larson officiating.  Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.  Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, March 30th, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.