Obituary - Velma Elaine Christensen

Velma Elaine Christensen, 95, passed away due to natural causes at Northern Montana Care Center Thursday, August 20, 2020.

Cremation has taken place, and graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 19, 2020, in Highland Cemetery.

Velma's family has suggested memorial donations be made in her memory to Messiah Lutheran Church, Your Network of Praise, http://ynop.org/ , or Plant A Seed Read, http://www.plantaseedreadmt.org/ .

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Velma's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com .

Velma was born on April 21, 1925, in Maddock, ND, the youngest of 10 children born to Nels and Anna (Briesath) Halvorson. She was raised in Maddock, and during her early childhood years, she contracted polio and experienced profound hearing loss. As a result, she attended the North Dakota School for the Deaf in Devil's Lake until her graduation in 1942. After graduation, Velma attended Gallaudet College, the first higher learning school for the deaf, in Washington, DC.

Velma earned a bachelor's degree in home economics education. She went on to teach home economics in deaf schools in North Carolina, Minnesota and at the School for the Deaf in Great Falls. There, she met Albert Sommar Christensen, and the couple married in 1954.

They moved to Havre and soon had three children, Sonia, James "Jimmy" and Marit. Velma worked for many years as homemaker, and as a bookkeeper for Brown's Hardware, Milam Floral and Stuber Plumbing.

She loved to quilt, garden and to bake. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a constant source of joy to her. Velma was a long-time member of Messiah Lutheran Church and the Montana Association of the Deaf.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Christensen; son, James "Jimmy" Christensen; parents, Nels and Anna Halvorson and all nine of her siblings.

Velma is survived by her daughters, Sonia Meccage of Billings and Marit (John) Ita of Havre; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.