| Birth: | Feb. 24, 1914
Fargo
Cass County
North Dakota, USA | | Death: | Mar. 28, 2000 | 
Obituary from Independent Record:
Edward William `` Bill'' Christiansen went to be with our Lord on March 28, 2000. Bill was born on February 24, 1914 in Fargo, North Dakota. He attended Fargo High School and North Dakota State University.
He moved to Hardin, Montana in 1947 where he met and married Hattie James on December 27, 1947. This began a lifelong relationship of love, friendship and devotion. They began raising a family, which always remained the number one goal in their life together. Bill was part owner of the Hardin Auto, a Ford Dealership for many years in Hardin. The most treasured and important part of that business was the many lifetime friendships that were established.
Bill's Community Services included President of the Hardin Youth Council, President of the Campfire Girls Association, Finance Chairman of the Boy Scouts of American, Chairman of the Senior Citizen Association. He received many awards which included: the JCC Outstanding Citizen Award; the Cascade County Senior Citizen Appreciation Ward; Hardin Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen Award; Citizen of the Year in Western Broadcasting; ACLU Distinguished Service Toward a Clean and Healthful Environment; Distinguished Service Award by Montana Environmental Health Association and the Toastmasters International Distinguished Service Award.
In 1969, Bill entered public office and moved to Helena, Montana. Like everything Bill did, this was with commitment, dedication and respect. Bill was eight years in the Montana House of Representative, Democratic Floor leader in 1971 and President of Montana Senate in 1973.
Bill's Legislative Service included serving on the Executive Reorganization Commission, Appropriations, Education, and Fish and Game Committees and the Montana's Coal Resources Research Council. Bill also had the distinction of being the last Lieutenant Governor to be elected on a ticket separate from the Governor and the first one to serve on a fulltime basis. He was also considered by many to be the father of Montana's Coal Tax. Some of the legislation Bill's sponsored were: 1-Mill Permissive Levy for Senior Citizens' Activities; Commission on Alcohol and Drug Dependence; Driver's Education Bill which enabled over 70,000 students to complete the course from 1969-1974; a 4-year Certification of Elementary Teachers; legislation making illegal, obscene or harassing phone calls within the State and Protecting Native Handwork of Montana's Indians.
Bill Statewide activities included serving on the Montana's Crime Control Commission, Montana's Environmental Quality Council, Superintendent's Council on Education for Disadvantaged Youth, Citizen's committee on Court Improvement and the White House Conference on Aging. Bill's Executive Service included Lieutenant Governor, 1973 --76, Chairman of the Montana Energy advisory Council, Coordinator of the State Drug Abuse and Addictive Diseases Program, Staff Coordinator of the Montana Energy Office and the Governor's Taskforce on Coal Gasification. Bill received the Distinguished Service in Government Award from the Federal Executive Board, Denver Region. In his political career, Bill is remembered as a true statesman.
Upon retirement in1980, Bill continued to pursue an active and physical lifestyle. Many people saw him playing tennis at Lockey Park or swimming at the spa where he was a lifetime member. Tanned and fit, Bill described his retirement as more time to spend with his wife and family.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Billy. He is survived by his loving wife, Hattie; his daughters, Linda Susan Davis and Deborah Ann Christiansen and her partner Bob Gelina; his grandchildren, Shannon Lee Doane and husband Thomas Hanser, Pamela Deborah Russell and husband Allen Russell, Ryan William Rickman; his great grandchildren, Shea Nicole, Jacob, Sarah, David and Malachai William. His grandchildren and great grandchildren lovingly called Bill `` Papa.'' Bill touched the heart and soul of everyone he met. He will be remembered forever and truly missed.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am, on March 31, 2000 at the Cathedral of St. Helena.
Memorials in his name may be made to the Westmont Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
| | | Burial:
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena
Lewis and Clark County
Montana, USA |
Created by: A Marine's Daughter
Record added: Dec 03, 2007
Find A Grave Memorial# 23230494 |
|
|
|
|
