Kathy Christensen

On Nov. 15, 2010 Heavenly Father called his loving and most selfless angel home. Kathleen (Kathy) Marie Christensen passed away tragically due to a blood clot to her lungs following a recent surgery. Our hearts are broken to lose such a special woman. She lived life to the fullest and loved everyone she ever met.

Kathy was born Sept. 18, 1951 to Gaye Gillette and Glen Riley. She was raised in Pocatello by her mother and adoptive father Merritt Burkey. She attended Alameda Jr. High and Pocatello High School where she graduated with honors.

During her senior year in high school Kathy met her sweetheart Edsel Christensen on March 16th, 1969. He made her aware that very day that she would someday be his wife. Six months later they were married on Sept. 26th, 1969. On September 19, 1970 Kathy was sealed to the love of her life in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Ed and Kathy were quite a team. By the time she was 29, they had 6 children and 10 years later they adopted another one to make their family complete. Kathy spent her entire life working hard supporting those she loved, especially her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed her family above everything else in this world.

Kathy absolutely loved attending sporting events when her husband, children and grandchildren were competing. She traveled the country following them to their college games, marathons, horse races and even beauty pageants. She was their #1 fan. If you knew Kathy, you knew her arm pump, her distinctive “woot” cheer, and her celebratory dance she did at all of these events. She also loved going to movies, attending plays, taking trips, and talking and texting on her cell phone.

She took anyone in and was a friend to all. When you were around Kathy, she made you feel like family. She was always happy and had a smile that would light up a room. Her laugh was constant and contagious, and you would never know if she was having a bad day. She was a confidant and a source of comfort to her children and grandchildren, who communicated with her DAILY. She was the glue that held her family together " the first one they would call to celebrate their successes or to ask for help in their time of need.

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She loved the music of the church and served actively and willingly in all of her callings. She had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and raised her children to love the Gospel and to serve and love others.

She owned Kathy's Tax Service and prepared taxes for over 30 years. She loved her clients and looked forward to seeing them every year. She also most recently worked for the City of Chubbuck as the Billing Clerk. She greatly enjoyed working with people, and they loved her too. Many customers came in person to pay their bill just to chat with Kathy.

Kathy is survived by her husband Edsel Christensen; her children Kimilie (Joel) Shokes, Chubbuck; Eddy (Staci) Christensen, Eagle; Kaidree Christensen, Meridian; Kelsie (Jim) Burrup, Pocatello; Kanielle (Gerald) Foster, Pocatello; Samuel (Rachelle) Christensen, Meridian; Kalicia Christensen, Pocatello; her sister Polly (Darrin) Toop, Murrieta, CA; her Uncle Gary (Joanne) Gillette, Twin Falls; her Uncle Garth (Linda) Gillette, Southern Shores, NC; her Uncle Bert Riley, St. Helen, MI; her Aunt Vella Durham, Dexter, MI; and her loving Aunt Bella Hamilton of Dexter, MI. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren, numerous cousins and her many life-long friends, with a special thanks to Rick Welch.

Kathy is preceded in death by her grandson Camden Bobby Christensen; her parents Gaye Gillette Harth and Merritt Burkey; her mother and father-in-law Thain Christensen and Alice Gunter Christensen; her brother-in-law Bobby Christensen; and her dear grandmother Valear Thompson Gillette.
Kathy loved the color pink, and in her honor, we are requesting you to wear anything pink to her services.

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Service information will appear under the "Service Schedule" tab above.