Mary Lou Christensen, 88, of St. Paul, died unexpectedly on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Brookefield Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in St. Paul.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Reverend John Doolittle officiated. Roger Grim and Tom Grim were the singers. Kay Meyer was the organist. “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” was the congregational hymn. Song selections included “On Eagle’s Wings” and “In The Garden.” The recorded selection was “Waltz Across Texas,” by Ernest Tubb. Interment was in the Grand Island City Cemetery.

Casketbearers included Joseph Douglas, Douglas Straub, Chris Douglas, Ted Straub, Laura Douglas, Mitch Straub, and Valerie Christensen.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Mary Lou was born on December 19, 1934, the daughter of Peter and Matilda (Runge) Brunholtz, on a farm north of Cairo. She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo. She attended country grade schools and graduated valedictorian of the Class of 1952 of Centura High School.

She was united in marriage to Donald L.

Christensen on December 29, 1955, also at Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo. Donald was employed with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, and the couple lived in Grand Island, Broken Bow, and Mc-Cook, before moving to St. Paul in 1959, where they raised their three children. Mary Lou also did in-home daycare for the Foster, Rudolf, Swanson, Ludemann, Schacht, Mortimer, Osterman, Gleason, Leth, and Cuckie families.

Later in life, she cleaned homes for the Shaughnessy, Cerney, Dvoracek, Merchant, Beberniss, and Paul families. She also baked and decorated many wedding, birthday, and graduation cakes for many families in central Nebraska.

She was a longtime member of Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul, where she held many offices in the church and was a Sunday School teacher; she was also a girl scout and cub scout leader, and member of the Carl Mogensen American Legion Auxiliary Unit 119 of St. Paul, Platt-Duetsche Ladies Society in Grand Island, Telephone Pioneers of America, and Family and Community Extension Club.

She is survived by her children and spouses, Pam and Russell Douglas of Mayetta, Kansas, Dr. Michael Christensen and Dr. Susan Christensen of Walton, and Jeff and Shauna Christensen of St. Paul; seven grandchildren, Joseph and Betsy Douglas, Chris and Courtney Douglas, Laura Douglas, Douglas Straub, Ted and Kelsey Straub, Mitch and Samantha Straub, and Valerie Christensen; and seven great- grandchildren, Charlotte, Everett, Chino, Malaki, Weston, Tyson, and Maya.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald on April 21, 1999; great-grandson, Conrad Lee Douglas; infant sister, Betty Jane Brunholtz; and special friend, Dave Tuma.

The Phonograph-Herald | November 29, 2023