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Our beloved mother, grandmother, great- and great-great-grandmother, Martha Lea (Weathered) Christiansen, died peacefully on Nov. 27, 2024 at the age of 93. She was born on Nov. 28, 1930, to Charles and Mattie (Hunter) Weathered in Norwich, Kansas. She was the fifth of seven children.
She grew up helping on the farm and attended a one room schoolhouse. She rode a horse to school and saw electricity come across Kansas when she was in high school. She was involved in 4-H, school productions and church. After graduating high school from Norwich High School, she attended Kansas State University, majoring in home economics. She met her lifetime love, Everett (Chris) Christiansen, during her first year of school and they were married on Oct. 20, 1950.
They farmed in Cherokee, Kansas for three years, where their son Steven Kent was born. They moved to Powell, Wyoming in 1953 to start farming until retirement. Gala Caroline and Jill Elaine were both born in Powell. Martha enjoyed volunteering in 4-H, Star Community Club and at the First United Methodist Church in Powell, Wyoming. She was a classroom aide in first grade at Southside Elementary School for two years and then became the school secretary for the following 18 years. As Everett’s Parkinson’s disease got worse, they moved into town where she enjoyed gardening, playing cards, puzzling and caring for Everett. Just before her 90th birthday, Martha moved in with her daughter, Jill Smith.
Martha will always be remembered for her love of family gatherings. She especially loved visits from her grandchildren, great and great-great-grandchildren. She taught her family character through her love for God, volunteering in church, 4-H and farming. She was quick to smile, showed others how to forgive, and worked harder and longer than anyone else. She also shared her love for God through serving friends and neighbors.
Martha is survived by her son, Steve (Debbie) Christiansen of Powell; daughters Gala (Steve) Brown of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Jill (Seaton) Smith of Powell. She was blessed with six grandchildren: Christy (Larry) Larsen, Mike (Betsy) Christiansen, Jessica (Wesley) Smith, Shannon (Patrick) Kirkwood, Forrest (Tabitha) Smith and Alyssa Smith. She has 10 great-grandchildren (Biance, Mattie, CallieAnn, Cade, Hugh, Marlow, Callie, Macie, Jacob and Xenophon) and one great-great-granddaughter, Olivia. Her sister, Mary Simpson, is her only living sibling. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and five siblings: Paul Weathered, Marie Weathered, Fern Tilson, John Weathered and Barbara Bachus.
A service will be held at Union Presbyterian Church in Powell, Wyoming on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 at 2 p.m. Suggested memorial gifts can be made in her name to the Senior Center Building Fund of Powell.
