Duane Lee Christensen – 1929 – 2022
Duane Lee Christensen was born on 11/14/1929 to Merle Christensen and George Lavar Christensen in Salt Lake City, UT. Duane graduated from Granite High School in Salt Lake City, UT. While there he met and fell in love with his sweetheart, Margaret Gee. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple shortly after they both finished high school on 9/8/1948. They were happily married for almost sixty two years until her death on March 29, 2010.
Together Duane and Margaret welcomed five children: Linda, Kent, Craig, Scott, and Jill.
Shortly after getting married, Duane started construction on their home in Millcreek, UT. He was very proud of their home, having worked on the plans and construction mostly on his own. Duane lived in their home until his death.
Duane spent a lot of his childhood with his cousins on his Grandparent’s ranch in Salina, UT. He often dreamed of being a cowboy as he loved the lifestyle and the gorgeous scenery. An animal lover though, some ranching tasks just proved to be too much, and led him on a different path.
Duane has always been a hard worker. Early on, he took over a part of the bread truck route from his father, buying his own truck and travelling from Ogden down to Nephi on his route. While finishing school for surveying and engineering Duane worked at a butcher shop in Draper, UT. He later moved on to being a manager at Safeway grocery, before going to work at the Utah Department of Transportation in 1963. Responsible for the bridges in Arches and Bridges National Parks, Duane’s work left a lasting effect and is still in use today. During his long and successful tenure as first a surveyor and then a Senior Project Engineer with UDOT, Duane was featured on the news and in the newspaper for his work with such high-profile projects as the Van Winkle Expressway, I-215 West, and Bangerter Highway. He retired from the department after a decades long career.
Once Duane retired, he and Margaret had a second home in St. George, UT where they were able to enjoy some time away. They travelled as much as they could, taking their grandkids around the state to the National Parks, and even took a trip to Russia which they thoroughly enjoyed.
A devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Duane served in numerous capacities, always willing and able to assist with whatever was needed. He was a longtime member of the Kenwood 2nd and Granview 3rd Wards. Along with his wife Margaret they served a Salt Lake City area mission and were well loved there.
Duane was devoted to his family, his church, and his neighborhood. A lover of Geology, he would spend hours looking for rocks and stones and would teach the kids all about
them. He loved to throw a ball with his sons and follow sports. Always a lover of the outdoors, Duane loved to ski, had a sailboat on the great Salt Lake and went snowmobiling. He enjoyed puzzles, reading history books, especially local Utah History, and root beer floats. A natural talent for math served him well in his career and came in handy helping the kids in the neighborhood with their homework. But above all, Duane took care of everyone and anyone that needed his help, even if it was just to lend an ear or a shoulder for support. Up until Duane’s death, his main concerns were for his daughter and family, wanting to make sure they were taken care of.
Duane is survived by his daughter, Jill Christensen, sister Lorene Moore, and grandchildren Michael Hardman (Zoie), Anna Hardman, Jennifer Reeser (Andrew), and Robert Church. He has six great-grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved very much.
Duane is proceeded in death by his parents, George Lavar Christensen and Merle Christensen, Siblings Kay Dudley, and Keith Christensen, Wife Margaret Christensen, children Kent Christensen, Linda Church, Scott Christensen, Craig Christensen, and grandson Robert Hardman.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at the Grandview 3rd Ward, 2930 S. 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT. There will be a viewing one hour prior to the services.
Interment will be at 2:45 at Vine Bluff Cemetery 550-598 E 1250 N. Nephi, UT 84648.