Maynard R. Christiansen

MAYNARD RICHARD CHRISTIANSEN, 98, passed away on Friday, July 12, 2019 at Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Viborg, SD.
Maynard was born in Irene, SD on January 10, 1921 to Herbert and
Beryl Christiansen. He attended Irene’s school through the eighth grade when his family
moved to a farm in Hawarden, IA. He vividly related the horrors of the 1930s dust bowl and
how the house was always filled with dirt. Maynard graduated from Hawarden High School in
1940 and then attended Nettleton Business College in Sioux City, IA graduating in 1942.
Maynard was on the high school football team and could only afford football shoes that were
one size too small. He cut out the tops of the shoes to make more room. Grace was a
cheerleader and probably didn’t notice the cut shoes. They were married on June 16, 1942
and celebrated 59 years of marriage. In the 40s, World War II was raging, and Maynard saw the
need to serve his country. He joined the United States Navy and spent the majority of his time,
1942-1944, on the destroyer D.W. Taylor in the South Pacific.
Maynard and Grace moved to Irene in 1946. He owned the Imperial Insurance Agency, Inc.
until retirement in 1995. He also did Federal Income Tax for years and hired cheap labor (his
daughters) to address, lick envelopes and stamps for people wanting their taxes done.
Maynard walked to work almost every day for 46 years after taking a ten-minute noon nap any
place on the floor where the sun was shining. Maynard assumed many leadership roles in the
Irene community including being an original director of the Sunset Manor Nursing Home. He
and his daughter, Trudy, were Irene’s Centennial general chairman/secretary.
Maynard enjoyed playing golf at Glenridge Golf Course. When you hit your golf ball into a tree
between fairways, you can think about Maynard and Grace as they donated those trees!! He
liked playing cards, boating (built his first boat), camping and exploring much of the United
States. On the first night tent camping, the tent was flooded from a very hard rain. When the
family was in Yellowstone, Grace woke up yelling, “Maynard, there is a bear outside.” That was
the family’s one and only tent camping experience!! A childhood memory was visiting his
Danish grandpa and grandma where he dipped a sugar cube in the coffee and then sucked on
it. He also remembered the smell from the old tires the kids would burn to keep warm after
building a skating pond.
For the last seventeen years, Maynard enjoyed a very special friendship with LaVonne
Johnson, Viborg, SD. They spent their time together by traveling, entertaining friends and
eating out at Maynard’s favorite restaurant—McDonalds!! He is survived by his daughter,
Peggy Christiansen, Santa Rosa, CA, grandchildren, Jodi (Rich) Curry, Santa Rosa, CA and
Jeremy (Paige) Olsen, Whitesboro, Texas, son-in-law Doyle (Virginia) Olsen, Sioux Falls, SD,
and his sister, Vernice (Fran) of Ponca NE. He had six great grandchildren, Shaina (Jeremy)
Goedtke, Quincy, Kiana, Tylar, Trace and Turner and a great-great grandchild, Grayson. He
was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Grace, daughter, Trudy (Christiansen) Olsen,
infant son, Randal Scott, and sister, Leola Bushmer.
Maynard was a wonderful father, grandfather, and friend. He was a hard worker and
appreciated and shared his blessings in this life. May we live on in the spirit in which he lived
with courage, fortitude, generosity, and love.
Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.