Ina Christensen

Ina Vivian Christensen, 102, passed away February 28, 2010 at Eagle Cliff Manoras the result of a very long and full life. .Ina was born in Litchfield, MN, to George and Helen Hattie (Nehls) Cassady on July 25, 1907, the second oldest of 5 children. She graduated from Litchfield High School in 1925, where she loved basketball and was so good at it she was known as ""Sure Shot Cassady."" In 1927 she graduated from St. Cloud Teacher's College in St. Cloud, MN. Her one and only teaching job was in a rural school house near Ridge, MT, for one year.In December of that year she went back to Minnesota and married Arthur Christensen on December 23, 1927. She left her new husband and returned to Montana where she taught until school was out and then went home. They lived in Litchfield and International Falls, MN, where their oldest daughter, Delores, was born. They later lived in Bemidji, Parkers Prairie, and Alexandria, MN, where their second daughter, Judith, was born. They moved to Billings in 1947. During her life she worked in a movie theater selling tickets, in a creamery wrapping butter, and at Eastern Montana College, now MSU-B, for 12 years as a food preparer and cashier in the Student Union Building. Her last job was working at Wells Fargo Bank (formerly known as Norwest Bank) at statement time which she did until she was 90 years old.Ina was very proud of living such an advanced age and longed to make it to 100 which she did. She lived in the same house on Harvard Avenue for 58 years, moving toThe Vista at St. John's Lutheran Ministries in 2006, and Eagle Cliff Manor in 2007.She was known for her delicious mince meat pies, dream bars, embroidered dish towels and knit dish rags. She learned to knit during World War I, making squares that were used to make afghans for the soldiers. She and her husband were avid bowlers in the 1950's and 60's. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing Solitaire. Ina received numerous awards for volunteering her time at Deaconess Hospital's gift shop and doing mailings and many other jobs during her 30 years with RSVP. She was definitely not a person to just sit around and always said the key to living a long life was staying busy. She was a member of American Lutheran Church since 1948, hardly ever missing church services until her health prevented her attendance. Her husband, Arthur, passed away in 1971.Ina was preceded in death by her parents and husband, her daughter, Delores Schmidt, two sisters, Irva McCracken and Mildred Silva, and one brother, Wesley Cassady. She is survived by her daughter Judith (Robert) Locke of Columbus, MT; 3 grand-daughters, Bonnie (Boyd) Britton of John Day, OR, Debbie (Ken) Claridge of Quemado, NM, and Stephanie (Glen) Reed of Broken Arrow, OK. Two grandsons, Brandon (Jaime) Locke, and Shane (Amy) Locke of Anchorage, AK. 9 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, one sister, Hazel Webster of Lehi UT, and 8 nieces and nephews. We would like to thank the staff of Eagle Cliff Manor for the wonderful loving care they provided Mom the last 3 years. Memorial service will be at American Lutheran Church at a later date. Interment in Sunset Memorial Gardens.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to American Lutheran Church, Alzheimer's Association, or a charity of your choice.Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com