Alice Elaine Christiansen, 91, of Pender, died Monday, March 2, 2026, at the Heritage of Emerson Nursing Home in Emerson.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 8 from 5 until 7 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Pender, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, March 9 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Pender. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery in Pender.
Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.
Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender.
Elaine was born on June 18, 1934 near Tekamah, on the family farm, the daughter of Emil and Mae (Conway) Kjeldgaard. She graduated from Bancroft High School in 1952 and attended the College of St. Mary’s for two years. On Sept. 25, 1954, Elaine was united in marriage to Densil M. Christiansen in Bancroft. To this union, six children were born: Vikki, Timothy, Michael, Gregory, Coleen, and Gina.
Elaine and Densil loved to travel and dance. Elaine enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, painting, and all things Nebraska Cornhuskers. She was active with the Catholic Church, serving with the Altar Society, a member of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, ESA Gamma Iota Chapter, the Pender Museum Board, the Pender Community Center fundraising board, and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Elaine loved to attend her children's and grandchildren’s activities.
Survivors include her daughters, Vikki (Steve) Petersen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Coleen (Rod) Kinning of Tabor, South Dakota, Gina (Marty) Roth of Pender; sons, Tim Christiansen of Omaha, Mike Christiansen of Sioux City, Iowa, Greg (Robin) Christiansen of Pender; 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Joyce Scheibler of Denver, Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Densil; sister, Donna Henkel; brothers, Larry Kjeldgaard, and Br. Francis Kjeldgaard.
