LaDeena Smith Christensen's Obituary
LaDeena Smith Christensen, formerly of Riverside, California, passed away early on December 5, 2021, in her home in Orem, Utah, lovingly surrounded by some of her children. She was just two months shy of celebrating 100 years of life.
LaDeena was born February 26, 1922, in Tridell, Utah to Elbert and Madeena Smith. She was the second child and eldest daughter in a family of eleven, including two brothers and eight sisters. Growing up in Tridell and Whiterocks, Utah, LaDeena and her siblings enjoyed working on the farm, picnics and camping in the canyon, and roasting potatoes in the cedars. LaDeena was a big help to her mother, sewing, cooking, and tending babies. We frequently heard her say, “I really loved those babies!” She graduated from Alterra High School in May of 1939.
After high school graduation, LaDeena moved to San Francisco to work and it was there she met Dall Lars Christensen. On January 20, 1942, they were sealed in the Mesa, Arizona Temple.
LaDeena and Dall made their home in Long Beach, California from 1942 until 1957, where their seven children were born. They relocated to El Monte, California in 1957. They spent the next 32 years in El Monte raising their family, volunteering in various capacities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and serving friends and neighbors. A highlight of their service was working in the Los Angeles Temple together from 1983-1997. In 1989 LaDeena and Dall moved to Riverside, California to be closer to family. LaDeena’s flower garden there became a work of beauty that was enjoyed by all who visited their home. She preferred to be outside gardening to almost anything else and did not allow a weed to take root for long. She and Dall continued to help wherever they saw a need until he passed away in 1998. They were married for 56 years.
During her almost 30 years in Riverside, LaDeena was a tremendous example of serving others frequently and selflessly. She had a gift for accepting people how and where they were and remembered details about them and their families.
LaDeena spent many hours hand quilting quilts and sewing clothes for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Many of them have memories of quilts on frames in her family room, sleeping under the quilt with cousins, gifts of quilts for weddings and babies, and creating and quilting together on the Christensen Family Heirloom quilts. What a gift these quilts and memories are now.
LaDeena’s love of babies never ceased. She cherished helping her daughters and then granddaughters with their newborn babies. Hundreds of pictures of her snuggling the little ones are now priceless treasures.
LaDeena was preceded in death by her husband, Dall Lars Christensen; her parents, Elbert and Madeena Smith; brother, Chester Smith; sisters Clella Smith, Vione Parrish, Bona Bates, and Ednal Simmons; son-in-law, George Young; granddaughter, Wilhelmina LaDeena Kole; and great-grandson, Aiden David Hunt.
LaDeena is survived by her children Marta (Dale )Mouritsen, Susan (Gene) Kole, Rebecca Young, Michaelene (John )Ness, Mark (Lynnell )Christensen, Christi (Mike) Stone, and Rae Lynne (Mike) Guthrie. She is also survived by 30 grandchildren and 58 great-grandchildren who knew and loved their “Grandma-Great” more than any grandmother has ever been loved. She is also survived by her sisters Moana Burton, Roberta Crozier, Veneita (Hank) Carron, Orion (Linda) Smith and Teri Waters.
Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Saturday December 11, 2021 at the Orem 1st Ward, 80 South 280 East, Orem, Utah with a viewing to begin at 11:00 am. Interment will be held at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on Tuesday December 14, 2021 at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Primary Children's Hospital or LDS Church Humanitarian Aide: LDS Church Humanitarian Services,
https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/donations/church/humanitarian-services/humanitarian-aid-fund or Primary Childrens Hospital,
https://secure3.convio.net/ihchs/site/Donation2?df_id=1566&mfc_pref=T&1566.donation=form1
Live stream link: https://bit.ly/ladeena-funeral
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