Clarice and Bradley Witte at their wedding 1938 photo collection of Elroy Christenson

Clarice Christenson Witte History Daughter of Pete Christenson

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Clarice Pernella Christenson
b. 24 Nov 1911 Heichman ranch, Jonesboro, Limestone Co, TX
d. 7 Apr 1999 Christus St. Hospital, Dallas, TX
buried: April 10, 1999 at 2:00pm St Olaf's Lutheran Rock Church, Norse, Bosque Co., TX

m. Alton Bradley Witte 26 Jun 1938 - (div.)
b. 6 Nov 1914-- 1999
d. 12 Jan.1999 TX*
buried: Boggy Cem., Cranfills Gap, Bosque Co., TX
his father: Alvin Witte (24 AUG 1888--27 FEB 1955)*
his mother: Lela Adams (06 MAR 1891--22 FEB 1980)*

Clarice went to Dallas, TX to attend nursing school at St. Paul's Hospital graduating as a registered nurse. She wrote "Work was scarce as the Depression was at its worst so I went to Rochester, Minnesota, to seek my fortune. I had many private duty cases for world famous Mayo Brothers at hospitals associated with their clinic. Later I did post-graduate work at the University of Minnesota and University of Texas at Arlington."

Clarice and Bradley, although born and raised around Cranfills Gap, TX. moved to various locals around the United States seeking work. During WWII Bradley went to Gary, Indiana to work for US Steel with the Christenson kin. Before the war was over Bradley and Clarice moved back to Texas. [Violet Christenson]

 

Clarice and Bradley follow other friends and relatives to West Texas where he works in the oil fields. Around 1950 Clarice's sister and brother leave for Grand Prairie to work in the aircraft industry. They bought a house only two blocks from Chris Christenson and about 10 blocks from Marie Reesing, her sister. Other relatives moved nearby over the next few years. [EC]

During the early 1950's all the Christenson, Reesing and Wittes moved from west Texas. Most moved into the Grand Prairie region to work for the aircraft company. Bradley and Clarice bought a farm near Cranfills Gap which they worked on the weekends. At one point Bradley commuted almost daily the 150 mile one way trip from the farm to Grand Prairie. During one summer plowing season, Joe Bradley, at about the age of six, had been sitting on the hood of the tractor and fell off under the rear tire. Fortunately, the soil had just been turned and  was soft enough to absorb his head without injury.

Clarice continued to be a private registered nurse for about 35 years of her life. She was a member of the Arlington Gem and Mineral Club. She loved to travel and made several trips with her brother Jake and her sister Ann. She did oil painting as a hobby and generally enjoyed having a good time. [obituary]

She lived by herself in Grand Prairie until her memory problems became so severe that she was no long able to take care of herself. She lived with her daughter in Plano, Texas in the last few years and dealt with progressively worsening Alzheimer's disease symptoms. [obituary April 9, 1999]

1999- April 7th & 10th - Clarice Christenson Witte dies and is buried in the Rock Church Cemetary near Cranfills Gap, Texas. 

Joe Bradley had learned electronic communications in the military and spent most of his career in the communications field. He dies after long bout of heart problems about 1999. He had a couple of children.

SOURCE:

writings of Clarice Christenson Witte
story of Violet Christenson
obituary Grand Prairie Hearld, April 9, 1999
photos from the collection of Elroy Christenson

All information and photos included within these pages was developed by the help of hundreds of researchers. The information here is for the express purpose of personal genealogical research and is freely offered as long as this site is listed as a source. It may not be included or used for any commercial purpose or included in any commercial site without the express permission of Elroy Christenson. Copyright Elroy Christenson 1998-2007.

web pages created by Elroy Christenson- echriste@sccd.ctc.edu - last updated 6/06/08