Estelle V Christensen

Vernon Estelle Christensen went to be with the Lord on January 29, 2025. She died at home, cared for and surrounded by her family. She was born to James Daniel and Sarah Newman on November 7, 1931, in Votaw, Texas. She was the seventh of ten siblings. Her father was a Pentecostal evangelist and the family lived in Louisiana for a time, then traveled to Florida. They finally settled in Pensacola, Florida, where she attended The Pentecostal Assembly of Jesus Christ church. When Estelle was 14, the church’s Ladies Auxiliary paid her tuition to attend the Apostolic High School and College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Estelle met the love of her life, James M. Christensen, at the Apostolic College. She traveled home with Jim to Toppenish, Washington, and they were married in 1953. Their first apartment was at Conquerors Bible College where Jim helped work on the newly formed school. Their first child, Marsha, was born in Portland, Oregon. The family soon moved to Salem, Oregon, where Jim began to train as a builder and their two boys, Jimmy and Don, were born. Idaho was their next home and their youngest, Tammy, was born in Cascade, Idaho. Estelle and Jim followed construction work. They lived in California, Oregon, Washington, and then settled in Caldwell, Idaho, where they have lived for the past 49 years. 

Estelle loved God and raised her family in her faith. She and Jim attended church wherever they lived and served faithfully. One of her greatest joys was that her children and grandchildren were following in their footsteps. Over the past year, it was difficult for her to attend church but she always had her church bulletin close at hand and prayed for her church family daily.

Estelle and Jim were married for 67 years until he passed away in 2020. She missed him everyday until she reunited with him in death. They traveled as a family and took several adventurous road trips. After their children left home, Estelle and Jim traveled together extensively. They lived and worked in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and in Jackson, Mississippi. She loved to travel and to visit family and friends.

Estelle loved fishing and hiking Idaho mountain streams and lakes, picking huckleberries, and getting together with her family in Donnelly, Idaho. She wanted her family to stay close to each other and nothing made her happier than the Family Reunions in Donnelly. She loved her family fiercely and was fond of saying, “I started all this!” She was feisty and authentic, and never afraid to speak her truth.

Estelle was preceded in death by her husband Jim, and by her son Don and his wife Salli. Estelle is survived by: her sister, Irene Hale from Tulsa, Oklahoma, daughter Marsha (Alan) Stallones, son Jim (Kristi) Christensen, and daughter Tammy (Robert) Breshears. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Tia (Tyson) Davis, Justin (Rebecca) Stallones, A.J. (Veronica) Stallones, T.J. (Shawna) Christensen, Anthony (Monika) Christensen, Darryl (Asia) Christensen, Mili Christensen, Alexander Christensen, C.D. (Elizabeth) Breshears, Candace (Alex) Rojas, and Chris (Angela) Williams. She has 25 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.