Tessie Lou Christensen Metcalf

Tessie Lou Christensen Metcalf died peacefully on Friday, December 15, 2023, at the age of 98.

Tessie was born August 11, 1925, to Annetta Hansen and Erven Christensen. She attended grade school in Redmond, Utah and graduated from North Sevier High School in 1943 and graduated from Seminary at the same time. She enjoyed choice relationships with several teachers and friends. After high school she moved to Salt Lake City to work. She also attended LDS Business College. She was introduced to Herschel Metcalf by her sister Beula and her husband, Lamar Christiansen. Herschel had recently returned from serving in the Navy during WWII. He and Lamar were cousins from Gunnison, Utah. Tessie and Herschel were subsequently married in the Manti Temple on (what became flag day), June 14, 1946.

Tessie was raised in Redmond, Utah, which was a small farming community mostly settled by Scandinavian converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her father was a farmer. She loved those years with her family and extended family and friends in Redmond. She spoke fondly of those days despite the humble condition of the times. Their family home relied on outdoor plumbing, a wood stove for heating and cooking. Their family was without a telephone or car. They used a horse and wagon until her oldest brother was 16 and could drive. A vacation when they had one, was a wagon ride to Fish Lake. Her mother, Annetta, was an excellent cook and fed the family the fruits and vegetables from their large and productive garden. The dairy products came from the family cow. Refrigeration came from the use of ice blocks her father cut from Redmond Lake and stored in a cellar and used throughout the summer. By the end of her life she enjoyed the fruits of her labors, including driving a car, TV, computer and cell phone. 

Tessie and Herschel were devoted to one another and to God, family and friends. Tessie enjoyed many activities with Herschel and their friends. She always agreed to every call to serve in her ward. Her favorite calling was serving as an ordinance worker in the Bountiful Temple which she did for 9 years.  They belonged to a dinner group, a study group, and a golfing group of friends most of their lives.  Golf became her favorite sport. A favorite activity for Tessie was gardening. She was never idle. She loved to quilt, crochet and other needle work.   She worked for 20 years at First Security Bank in the Trust Department and retired as the bank operations officer in the Trust Department. She was amused near the end of her life that she had drawn a pension for more years than she worked at the Bank. 

Tessie was devoted to Herschel and her four children: Richard (Holly), Brent (Kristy), Joel (Laurie) and Linda (Jonathan, deceased) Wright.  She instilled strong and stable family traditions with high ideals for honesty, hard work, scholarship and service to the Lord. She loved teaching her children provident living: pay your tithing, pay your debts, avoid debt and obtain the highest level of education. 

Tessie is survived by her children, 17 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren She is preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, Herschel Metcalf, son-in-law, Jonathan Wright, and her siblings: Que Christensen, Beula Christiansen and Wallace Christensen and her much loved and appreciated in-laws, Sylvia and Junius Metcalf of Gunnison, Utah. 

She was proud to be an American and happy to cast her vote in each election. She was a fan of the Utah Jazz Basketball Team. Her custom was to call her sister Beula after every game (IF the Jazz won).

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 21, 2023 at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main,  Bountiful, Utah, where a viewing and visitation will be held 8:45- 9:45 am prior to services.  Interment will be in the Bountiful Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and this obituary page.