Stevensville – Marlene Christenson, 84, of Stevensville, passed away peacefully at her home on the morning of February 5, 2026.
Marlene was born September 29, 1941, to Jack and Anna Mielke in Hartley, Iowa. At age five she and her family moved to Loveland, Colorado. It was here that she met her future husband, Richard Christenson. Marlene graduated high school in 1956, and she and Dick were married June 29, 1958. They were married for 58 years at the time of Dick’s death in 2017. Together they welcomed three children – Donald, Debra, and Diana.
Marlene and Dick moved to a ranch in Stevensville, Montana, in 1974, and raised cattle there over the next 50+ years. Marlene was very involved in her children’s lives, serving as a Boy Scout Den Mother and a Club Leader in 4-H. She was a faithful member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Stevensville.
Marlene was a generous mother and grandmother, whose kindness, compassion, and spirit will live on in her children and grandchildren. As two of her granddaughters shared, “She was a good Grandma.”
Marlene was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Bud and Shorty, husband Dick and granddaughter Katie.
She is survived by her children Don (Yvonne), Deb (Rod) Higgins, and Di (Steve) Walner, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Per Marlene’s wishes there will be no service at this time, with a family memorial later this year. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.
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