Merton J “Chris” Christensen

Merton J “Chris” Christensen

6/24/2022

Merton J “Chris” Christensen was born on 4 Sept 1934 in Bloomfield, Nebraska. The son of Andrew B. and Laura M. Christensen, he attended elementary and high school in the Bloomfield, Nebraska public school system, graduating from high school in 1952. After working a year in the logging business in Washington State, he attended the University of Hawaii and San Diego State College, graduating from San Diego State in 1957 with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. Late in 1955 he married Mary Anita Keane in Las Vegas, Nevada. Upon graduating from college, he entered the United States Air Force, serving for more than 20 years.

While in the military he attended the Squadron Officer School and the Command and Staff College, graduating from the later in 1970. Between 1964 and 1966, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Southern California.

His assignments in the military sent him to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Panama – as well as several bases in the Continental US—where he served in various capacities within the field of Transportation: Traffic Control Duty Officer, OIC of Passenger Service, Director of Airlift, Air Terminal Manager, Director of Transportation, and Transportation Squadron Commander. In addition, he taught for two years at the Air Force Transportation School, and for three years at the AF Command and Staff College.

Upon leaving the military in 1978, he completed a year of academic work at Florida International University, majoring in political theory. Subsequent to that, he pursued a second career as a college and university teacher, employed primarily at Daytona Beach Community College and Stetson University. He also taught graduate management courses for The University of New Mexico, Florida Institute of Technology, the University of Southern California, and the University of Denver. Mr. Christensen taught a wide variety of courses, most in the areas of Management, Business Administration, and Economics.

Married to Mary A. Keane in 1955, the union produced two children, Andrew K. Christensen, and Steven E. Christensen. In addition, to his wife and two children, Mr. Christensen is also survived by four grandchildren: Lisa Marie Milam, Bradley Allen and Daniel Patrick Christensen, and Blake Christopher Christensen. He also leaves behind five great-grandchildren: Jacob and Wyatt Christensen, Nathaniel and Rosemary Milam, and Caden Christensen.

To view a beautiful tribute created by Blake Christensen click the link below: https://www.kapwing.com/videos/62b22a397b5d3200980a3403