Gerald Lawrence Christiansen Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

On Monday June 1, 2015 at home in Provo Utah our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend Gerald Lawrence Christiansen peacefully passed away. Gerry was born to Kristian John and Hansine Christiansen, June 10, 1925 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He grew up in a small home behind the Utah State Capitol Building with his four brothers and one sister. Unbeknown to any, all the land from Ensign Peak to City Creek Canyon was his "Red Ruby Ranch" where he ran cattle and horses and sometimes a scooter. It seems that Gerry was born to serve. He served for two and one half years in World War II on a baby carrier as radioman. The little carrier participated in all the major battles in the South Pacific. There, and as always throughout his life, he was the defender and champion of the under-dog. After the war he served again for two and one half years, this time as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denmark, his parents' native land. In 1952 he fell in love with a beautiful little two year old girl named Kerry. Later that year he married her mother, Vella Jean Little and adopted his beloved Kerry. Three sons were born, John Kevan, Kyle Dee and Lars Kip. Later the marriage ended. He soon met, baptized and married Kathleen Doughherty and took on her children Steven and Elaine. Together, he and Kathy founded Youngtown on a ranch in Hanna Utah. They fostered, loved and taught dozens of children, girls and boys of all ages, some to be reunited with their families and some to stay throughout high school. Later this marriage ended and Youngtown was turned over to Utah Boys Ranch and gradually disbanded. In 1970, Gerry met and married Barbara Baribeau and started a whole new life. They were sealed in the Provo Temple. He became the Seminary Teacher in Tabiona where he taught for many years. He loved and served and again rescued many young people. They thrived on his bear hugs everyday. He was their beloved "Bro. C". He was then transferred to the Utah State Hospital to teach Seminary to the troubled teens who were housed there in a special program. To him it was an honor and a privilege to be their teacher. These young people too, thrived on his bear hugs everyday. In 1990 at the age of 65, he retired and almost the same day left with Barb to serve a two year CES mission to South Africa where he served and taught and hugged hundreds of young people as he organized Seminaries and Institutes and became their beloved Elder Christiansen. In 1998 a great miracle occurred. Gerry and Barb were able to adopt a beautiful little newborn girl. They named her Mary and she has become the light of their lives. In 2013 his precious Kerry passed away and so there is a wonderful reunion now taking place along with two grandchildren, Gerald and Tyler and one great-granddaughter Rachel. And he may soon be saying farewell to his yet unborn great-grandson. A lover of people, a healer of troubles, a missionary, a fisherman, wood carver and storyteller; a giver of bear hugs, a writer, an outdoors man. He is loved and survived by his wife Barb, his younger brother and sister- in-law Gene and Renee, three sons and their wives, Kevan and Edy, Kyle and Tammy, Kip and Darvy; grandchildren Ben, Amy, Shirley, Kami, Johnny, Cameron, Kira. Faith, James, Trevor; and great-grandchildren Kaedin, Charlie, Savanna, Adam, Ethan, Eli, Azilee, Una, Kearston, Lux, Kael, and Jack. Funeral services will be at the Oak Hills 1st ward, 1038 N 1200 E in Provo on Monday, June 8, 2015. There will be a viewing held prior to the funeral from 9:30 am to 10:45 am. Interment at the Utah Veterans Memorial Park at 2:15pm. 17111 S Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, Utah

Gerald Lawrence Christiansen

June 10, 1925 - June 1, 2015