Lylis Mae (Grider) Christenson, the daughter of Liston and Rosie (Hamilton) Grider was born July 9, 1923 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Rugby.  She died at the age of 90 years on Monday, February 17, 2014 at the Trinity Medical Center in Minot.

Lylis was raised in the home of her parents and attended school in York for eight years, then graduated from Rugby High School in 1941.  She took nurse’s training at St. Michael’s Hospital in Grand Forks and graduated as a registered nurse in 1945.  She continued her nursing training at Bushnell General Hospital in Brigham City, Utah.  On June 30, 1947 she was united in marriage to Wes Christenson at Rugby.  Following their marriage the couple made their home, farmed, and raised their family on the Christenson family homestead.  Lylis and Wes raised four children and after they all left home, she began working at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Rugby as a home health nurse.  She had a passion for feeding people – family, friends, neighbors, and anyone who walked by.  Her door was always open! She was a crafter who loved decorating, making quilts, crocheting, and sewing.  She was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.  She will be missed by all.

Lylis is survived by her children, Paula (Lanny) Martin of Pembina, Mike (Karen), Kent (Donna), and Kris (Jim) Blessum, all of Rugby; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Wes; sisters, Lucille and Lareene; a brother, Liston, Jr.; and her parents.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 25^th at the First Lutheran Church in Rugby with spring burial in the Persilla Watts Cemetery.  Pastor Mike Pretzer, officiating.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby and will continue one hour prior to the time of services on Tuesday at the church.

A Prayer service and sharing of memories will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.