Leldon Christenson Family

Leldon and Betty Lou with Dale and Larry abo1960
photo in collection of Elroy Christenson

Leldon Dale Christenson Family

Texas

Leldon Dale Christenson
b. 1 May 1928 Bosque Co., Texas
d. 11 Feb 1997 Texas

m. Betty Lou Wimberly 19 Mar 1953 Cranfills Gap, TX
b. 7 Oct 1934 Texas
d.
her father: Buster Wimberly
her mother: unknown

her 2nd m. N. D. Hopkins 5 June 1999 (b. 9/28/29)

his father: Peder Legind Christenson
his mother: "Eva" Evalena Johnson

Children
Leldon Dale Christenson Jr.	b. 24 Apr 1954 Texas	d.	1m. Marla Sue Reyna 14 Nov 1975 Texas (d. c May 8, 2004 near Gardner, Colo.) 2m. Suzanne Davidson (divorcee)
Larry Paul Christenson	b. 9 June 1957 Texas	d.	m. Carol Renee Grounds 28 Aug 1979 Texas

1928 - Leldon Christenson is born as the second child to Eva Johnson Christenson.

about 1950 Leldon

Both Burton and Leldon graduate from Cranfills Gap High School. Eva's sons both go off to war. Burton was in the Merchant Marines and Leldon was in the Army and posted in Korea on the front line.

1948- The war over, the military started to tear down structures that they had used. Pete built a new house out of Ft Hood barracks and put in electricity because Leldon was working for the Tennessee Valley Authority at the time. [story told by Violet Christenson]

1953, 19 Mar - Leldon marries Bette Lou Wimberly. Her family had lived just over the mountain from the Christenson farm.

1955-ish to the 1960s- Leldon and Betty Lou lived in Grand Prairie, Texas. Leldon got a job with General Motors in Arlington. They had two boys, Dale and Larry. My Dad, Mom and I visited with Leldon and Betty Lou with frequently because they lived so nearby and because we always had a good time playing cards or fishing together.

Larry and Dale Christenson about 1960 in Grand Prairie, Texas.
photo in collection of Elroy Christenson

about 1960- There was a water shortage in Grand Prairie.   Leldon who was always handy and interested in solving the problem decided to dig a well in his yard.   This is a city lot and rather impossible to bring in heavy equipment so he thought he could hand-dig the well.   He decided to "divine" the location of the water with a "witching rod". It turned out to be Y shaped willow branch.   As he held it out the branch took a dive to the ground. Of course my dad and I both had to try it.   It did the same for us.   I just couldn't hold it up until I backed away from the location.    I really didn't believe that it could predict where the water was but Leldon figured that this spot next to the garage was "the location"   He started digging.   He hooked up an auger type post-hole-digger on to steel pipe and down it went.   Getting it out of the hole was more work with a crane framework and pulley above the hole to pull it out.   Gradually more sections were added to get greater depth.   This soil here is like concrete when dry and extremely slimy and sticky when wet.   He went down at least twenty feet and did hit some water but it really wasn't enough to irrigate his yard.   As far as I know the project was abandoned and the hole got filled in because of the kids.

In the last 60's Leldon had to retire from General Motors with a medical disability. He had contracted Parkinson's Disease.   Because he was a veteran he was able to get a lot of his medical expenses paid through the VA.   Betty Lou had to go to work for my cousin, Darrell Reesing, who was by now a dentist and had an office nearby.

The boys grow up with some of their Dad's skill and motivation and graduate from high school.   Eventually they form a successful cabinet making business south of Fort Worth. They both marry and have several children of their own.

1997 - After his lingering illness and eventually hospitalization he dies at the VA hospital.

about 2000 -Betty Lou remarries to real estate developer, N. D. Hopkins.

Both Dale and Larry have families that are still active. They have created an active and respected cabinet shop that sell cabinets for houses all over Texas.

c2004- Dale was ready to retire and bought an old ghost town in Colorado. He and his wife were on there way there when they had an auto accident. Marla was killed in the accident near Gardner, Colorado.

"Arlington, Texas - Marla Christenson 48 of Arlington, Texas and Gardner, Colorado. Survived by husband, Leldon Dale Christenson; children, Rachel Lynn and John Paul Christenson. Services in Fort Worth, Texas.
[Published on May 11, 2004, The Pueblo Chieftain, Pueblo, Colo.]

He has since remarried but I have no specifics on the family at this time. Dale Christenson has turned over the presidency of C & S Cabinets to his son John Christenson which is still making beautiful cabinets. His mother's newly remodeled house has many wonderful pieces. [EC 2007]

Larry has gone off on his own to establish his own cabinet shop near Morgan, Texas. The brothers work together on various jobs.

Source:
Christenson, records of Betty Lou Wimberly. 2003
Christenson, story told by Violet
C & S Cabinets Inc., 6201-A Dowdell Rd., Ft. Worth, TX 76119, (817) 429 - 6880 http://www.cnscabinets.com/index.htm

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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 6/20/08