Carrol James "Jim" Christensen's Obituary
Carrol James Christensen (“Jim”) was born April 25, 1939 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Cyrus Carrol and Bernice Blain Christensen. He grew up in the Salt Lake area and spent many summers in Spring City, Utah, with his grandma and grandpa Blain. He learned to love gardening from his mother and grandparents, and he continued to grow a garden throughout his life. He also enjoyed many pets as a youth and raised a number of wild birds, including ravens, magpies and sparrow hawks.
Jim graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City and attended BYU before joining the Naval air force, where he worked as a jet engineer. He served primarily in the South Pacific in defense of Taiwan and was stationed on a number of aircraft carriers, including the Ticonderoga, Shangri-La, and Bon Homme Richard.
In 1959 Jim married Charlene Andrus in the Salt Lake City temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The couple was blessed with five children: Jim (Jeri), Randy (Kimme), Brian (Jana), Amy (Matt Malan) and Tyler (Emily). At the time of Jim’s passing, Jim had 21 grandchildren and 12 great grand children. Jim and Charlene lived most of their lives along the Wasatch front, then moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where they lived for 22 years, before moving to Provo, Utah.
Jim loved the arts. He played several instruments and performed in local concerts. He also loved painting and developed a great talent for drawing sketches with pen and ink. He sold a number of his sketches through galleries in Utah and Nevada, and he taught art classes through a city extension.
When he wasn’t drawing sketches, Jim spent his time in the outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He spent many seasons fishing in Idaho and Montana, briefly owning and operating a fishing lodge in Island Park, Idaho. Up to his last year of life, he made annual pilgrimages to Montana streams that he first explored many decades earlier. Jim also participated in organized sports. He played competitive softball well into his ‘40s, when he teamed up with his sons in city and county leagues.
Jim served with Charlene in the Rexburg, Idaho temple, and later in the Provo City Center temple, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Avalea Walton, Mickey Buzzo, Evah Butler, Susan LeBronte, and Timothy Christensen; and Brad Christensen, his grandson.
Funeral services will be held October 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Lakeside First Ward, 131 South, 1600 West, Provo, Utah . A viewing will be held from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m.
What’s your fondest memory of Carrol?
What’s a lesson you learned from Carrol?
Share a story where Carrol's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Carrol you’ll never forget.
How did Carrol make you smile?