Lucele Kartchner Christiansen

Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Lucele Kartchner Christiansen moved on from this life on June 6, 2021 in Bountiful, Utah due to the effects of Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Lucele was born to Lafayette Shepherd Kartchner and Alice Smith on November 4, 1926 in Snowflake, Arizona. The daughter of a forest ranger, Lucele grew up in Northern Arizona. She attended High School in Flagstaff, Arizona for several years, but completed her Senior year of high school at BY High School in Provo, Utah while living with her sister Felice and her best friend, Eulene “Lefty” Bradford. Lucele went on to study Sociology at Brigham Young University and graduated in 1948. She returned to Arizona where she worked as a Social Worker. From June 1949 to February 1951 she served as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Eastern States Mission. After returning home from her mission, Lucele moved to Salt Lake City. She worked at the Telephone Company. She married John R. Christiansen on September 18, 1951 in the Logan Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The couple resided in Logan while John completed his Master’s Degree in Sociology. A son, David K (1952), was born in Logan. John, Lucele and David moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1953 so that John could study Sociology at the University of Wisconsin. John received his Ph.D. in 1955. The family headed to Lexington, Kentucky for post-doctorate research. Steven John (1955) and ElRay Lafe (1956) were born in Lexington. Dad accepted a position in 1957 at Brigham Young University. Carol Anne (1960) and Daniel Rees (1963) were both born in Provo.
Lucele spent her life serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Visiting Teacher, Teacher, Counselor, Secretary, Cub Scout Den Mother, and Temple Ordinance Worker. She served her family and supported her husband and children. She was a good friend to many. Her community service included PTA, the Red Cross, The Madsen Memorial Chorus and social organizations including BYU Women, Pro Libris and Comitas. Lucele and John enjoyed traveling to various world destinations including the Middle East, Europe and Mexico. She was John’s compassionate caregiver for the final 5 years of his life.
Likewise, the family appreciates those dedicated caregivers of Lucele over the past several years.
Survivors include her brother Rey B. Kartchner as well as her children David & Cindy Christiansen, Steven & Katy Christiansen, ElRay Christiansen, Carol & Gordon Pope and Dan & Claire Christiansen and 21 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Lucele was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and siblings Roxie Kartchner, Felice K. Swain, Rulon G. Kartchner.
Services will be held at 12:00 noon, Saturday, June 12, 2021 at the Oak Hills First Ward in Provo, Utah where a visitation will be held from 10:45 – 11:45 am prior to services. Interment will follow at East Lawn Memorial Hills.