By HDN staff
Charles Bernard "Charlie" Christianson, 58, died Sunday, March 5, 2000, at his residence of colon cancer.
A "Celebra-tion of Life" service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Rocky Boy High School gymnasium.
Christianson was born April 20, 1941, in Havre to Joseph and Edith (Donald) Christianson. He grew up and received his education in Havre. He graduated from Havre High School in 1960. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1960, and completed his basic training in San Diego, Calif. Most of his Naval career was spent at Barber's Point, Hawaii, where he was an aviation electronic technician in the "Hurricane Hunters" Division. He attained the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class before his honorable discharge in 1964.
He remained in the Naval Reserves for an additional two years. He returned to Havre and continued his education at Northern Montana College. In 1965, he took a job with Great Northern Railway and continued to attend college on a part-time basis. He graduated in 1972 with a degree in mathematics.
On May 29, 1967, he married Yvonne Cottrell at Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. The couple later divorced.
During the 1972 and 1973 school year he taught high school math at Box Elder. He attended Border Patrol School in 1974. After completion he began working in law enforcement at Chinook and continued in police work in Blaine County for five years.
He resumed his teaching career at Rocky Boy High School in 1980. He resided at Rocky Boy, teaching math at the high school for 18 years.
Hobbies during his life included fishing, softball, jogging, golfing and darts. He enjoyed playing cards, especially cribbage and poker. He also enjoyed reading detective stories, crossword puzzles, collecting Viking memorabilia, bird watching and hunting and hiking with his dogs.
He was a member of the Havre Eagles Club and the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1997 and a brother-in-law, Gerry Langel.
Survivors include a son, Charles "Chuck" Christianson, Jr., of Havre; daughters, Rosanna Christianson of Havre and Russann Sterrett of Billings; a special daughter, Jennifer Rutherford of Chinook; his mother, Edith Christianson of Havre; sisters, Deanna Anderson of Lodi, Calif., Maureen Weyh of Lyden, Wash., and Joann Langel of Rudyard; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials are suggested to the Bear Paw Hospice of Northern Montana Health Care or to the donor's choice.
Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester is in charge of arrangements.
