Lawrence R. "Chris" Christensen
Obituaries
Daily Sentinel page 5A - June 11, 2020
Lawrence “Chris”
R. Christensen
May 17, 1933 - June 8, 2020
Lawrence “Chris”
Christensen, of Grand Junction,
passed away on June 8, 2020, at
St. Mary’s Hospital. He was 87.
Chris was born on May 17,
1933, in Palisade, Colorado,
to Jacob and Annie (Larson)
Christensen. He spent his
childhood in Palisade, and
graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1951. He served in
the United States Army from 1951 to 1955. During this time Chris
met and married his first wife, Mary Lou Kocurek, and together
they had eight children. She later preceded him in death. He
married his second wife, Martha Derby (nee Hockett), in August of
1972, and welcomed two step-children. She preceded him in death
on July 27, 2015, in Grand Junction.
Chris worked as an auto mechanic for over 30 years. He enjoyed
being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with his grandchildren
and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Forest and
Jens, and daughter, Judy Downey.
He is survived by sister, Ethel Boydston of Palisade; sons,
Lawrence J. (Karin) Christensen of Killeen, Texas; Richard (Janet)
Christensen of Willis, Texas; Jeff (Stacy) Christensen of Collbran;
Allen (Jane) Christensen of Delta, and Dean (Karen) Derby of Grand
Junction; daughters, Linda (Robert) McCarthy of Grand Junction;
Kathy (Dennis) Goodman of Nampa, Idaho; Gloria (Tad) Paddock,
and Vicki Williams both of Grand Junction; 19 grandchildren, and
32 great-grandchildren
