A kind and gentle giant departed this earth August 31, 2018. Dale, affectionately called "Chris" by many, was born January 8, 1927 in Hyrum, Utah, to Rosa Zilles and Aaron Christiansen. He was the fourth child in a family of seven children. He grew up working on his family farm, teasing his sisters and playing football. A member of the Greatest Generation, Dale missed his South Cache High School graduation in 1945 to join the Navy. He returned from his service to run the family farm and met Pauline Winget at a dance at the Dansante in Logan. Pauline and Chris were married December 16, 1948 in the Logan Temple
Chris served in the Army during the Korean conflict. He graduated from USU in Dairy Science in 1954 and then attended Colorado State University becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1958. Dale was employed by the U. S. Government division of Animal Disease Eradication and the Christiansens made their home in Logan. In 1968, Dale attained a master's degree in Epidemiology from the University of California at Davis.
The family moved to Sandy, Utah, in 1971. Dr. Christiansen practiced as a small animal veterinarian at the Alta Veterinary Hospital and later at Canyon Center Veterinary Clinic. He also worked for PetCo and at Brookside Animal hospital, retiring at the age of eighty.
Dale is survived by his four children, Jan (Stephen B.) Smith, Kaye (Robert A.) Englert, Patrice (Jay) Mealey and Lee D. Christiansen (Bobbie) and his angel sister, Joan C. Datwyler (Denzel). Chris is the proud Grandfather of 11 grandsons and 3 granddaughters and 6 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Pauline, his sisters, Cloteel Larsen Wilkinson, Marzell C. Downs and Rose Marie Pilkington, his brothers LeGrande Christiansen and Gordon Christiansen, and a grandson Austin L. Christiansen.
Dale loved to pursue skiing, hunting and boating always surrounded by family and friends. He renovated a cabin in Island Park where he enjoyed entertaining those he loved. There was nothing he couldn't repair or build. He was an example of hard work and believed strongly in the power of education. He contended that you could learn anything from a book and repeatedly proved this throughout his life. He walked the earth helping others and doing good without fanfare or applause. Chris was ever appreciative with a "thank you" or "you betcha" and always, always enjoyed a chocolate malt with a grin.
Sincere thanks to Diane Kendall at Alta View Senior Clinic, Intermountain Hospice and the compassionate caregivers at Sunrise of Sandy.
The family will receive guests at a viewing at Larkin Sunset Gardens at 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) on Friday, September 7, 2018 from 7-8:30 in the evening. Funeral services will be held at the Hyrum City Cemetery 500-600 Main Street Hyrum, Utah 84319 at 11:30 am, Saturday, September 8, 2018. Interment will follow at the conclusion of the service.
