Sondra Christensen

Sondra Lee, daughter of Mose R. and Velma M. "Tootie" (Garside) Bell was born on November 24, 1934 at Harlan, Iowa. She was raised in Harlan before moving to Lewis and then to Atlantic where she graduated high school in 1953. On June 3, 1953, Sondra was united in marriage with Mervin Christensen at Clovis, New Mexico. While Mervin served in the Air Force, Sondra made her home in El Paso, Texas, Atlantic, Iowa and in Rapid City, South Dakota. They lived in Wisconsin before returning to Iowa. In 1965 they moved to Manning where they owned and operated Chris's Dairy Sweet for 18 years. Sondra then worked as a CMA at the Manning Plaza Nursing Home. For 13 years she also served as a volunteer EMT for the Manning Ambulance Service. Sondra was an AFS Chapter President and served a regional coordinator for the program while hosting four foreign exchange students through the years. She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, American Legion Auxiliary and was a VFW Auxiliary past president. Sondra enjoyed collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia, antiques, gardening, traveling and attending her children and grandchildren's activities. After a brief illness Sondra became a resident of the Manilla Manor in Manilla. She was soon transferred to the Manning Regional Healthcare Center where she died on November 24, 2009 at the age of 75 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Robert Bell and parents-in-law Walter and Marie (Juhler) Christensen. She is survived by her husband Mervin Christensen of Manilla; children: Starre Haney (William) of Mesa, AZ; Renee Stangl (Dale) of Manning and Michael Christensen (Shari) of Storm Lake; grandchildren: Patrick Haney (Lisa), Breann Haney (Levi Oman), Courtney Haney, Nathan Stangl (Stacy), Nicole Stangl, Martin Christensen, Doug O'Bannon (Jessica) and Steven O'Bannon; great-grandson Benjamin Stangl; brother Bradley Bell (Karen) of Anita; sisters-in-law: Mildred Klemish of Anita; Mardelle Maley of Atlantic; Maxine Lambertson of Atlantic and Sondra Sue Christensen of Elk Horn; brother-in-law Gary Wagner of Des Moines; nieces, nephews, other relatives, many friends and special constant companion, Callie, her cat.