Charleen Christensen

Charleen Berdell "Totsy", daughter of Loren E. and Lilly A. M. (Nelson) Booth, was born August 6, 1935 and entered the Elim Children's Home in Elk Horn, Iowa on January 2, 1942. She spent the better part of her childhood at the Elim Children's Home where Palma Petersen guided her through her formative years. She was confirmed and a member of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church. After graduating from Elk Horn High School where she was active in the music program, she spent one year each at Dana College and Northeast Montana State University before marrying Svend Christensen in 1955 while he was in the United States Navy. While Charleen and Svend were living in various parts of the United States where he was stationed with the Navy, they became the parents of four children. Svend was finally stationed in Altoona, Iowa. After he retired they settled in Mitchellville in 1971. Charleen worked at Joy B. Fitzgerald's Inc. for many years before opening Permits Plus Inc. with her longtime friend Donna James in 1998. She enjoyed working and was able to continue until a couple of years before her death. Charleen died Thursday, February 4, 2010 at Altoona Nursing and Rehab Center. Preceding her in death are her parents, brother Ted Booth and sisters Vicki McCracken and Lorena Petersen. She is survived by her husband of 54 years Svend Christensen of Mitchellville; daughters: Patricia Christensen of Mitchellville, Amy (Ron) Buenger of Altoona, Judy Christensen of Mitchellville and Susan Backe of Moberly, MO; five grandchildren; two great grandchildren; brother DeWitt "Skelly" (Shirley)Booth of Mt Pleasant; sister Marilyn (Russell) Juhl in Mitchellville; other relatives and friends.