R. Bruce Christiansen

Robert Bruce Christiansen, 68, of Montpelier, Idaho, passed away in the early morning hours on Saturday, February 28, 2015, at Sunshine Terrace in Logan, Utah.

Bruce was born January 23, 1947, at Latter-day Saints Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, the first child of DelRae Christiansen and Marjorie Steer. His first home was in Kaysville, Utah. In 1949 his family moved to Lancashire, England, where his father pursued a doctoral degree. Bruce’s family was completed with the birth of his sister Jill in 1954.

Bruce’s early schooling was with the USAF Dependents Schools at Burtonwood and Lakenheath Air Force Bases in Lancashire, England. He attended Lakenheath High School, Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, and graduated from Logan High School, Logan, Utah, in 1965.

Bruce attended Utah State University, Logan, Utah, where he earned a B.S. in 1972 with a double major in English and Political Science and, in 1982, earned a B.S. in Elementary Education.

In 1982 Bruce was hired by the Bear Lake School District, Idaho, to teach 4th grade at A.J. Winters Elementary School, Montpelier, Idaho.

Bruce married Lana Johnson Sanders on July 8, 1985, in Montpelier, Idaho. On September 19, 1986, their son Paul Robert Christiansen was born. Bruce and Lana later divorced but developed a lasting friendship.

Bruce continued to live in Montpelier, teaching at A.J. Winters until 1994. He then transferred to the Bear Lake Middle School, where his teaching emphasis was social studies and history. He was active in the Bear Lake Education Association. Bruce retired from teaching in 2010.

Bruce was the best big brother and father in the world. He was an avid reader, interested in history and politics. He enjoyed music, films, and golf, and was a loyal Boston Red Sox fan. He had a keen wit, quick sense of humor, curious mind, the gift of gab, and would / could not tell a lie. He was known as “the walking dictionary.” He was a cat person who grew to love dogs as well.

Bruce is survived by his son Paul, Gillette, Wyoming (longtime girlfriend Kyrie Jensen); sister Jill (Brent S. Windley), Logan, Utah; former wife Lana Johnson Sanders Christiansen, Montpelier, Idaho; former step-daughter Danielle Sanders Porter (Zane; children Dane, Hobie, and Madeline), Riverdale, Idaho; former sister-in-law Earlene Johnson Perkes (Lynn; son Luke), Bern, Idaho; former sister-in-law Jana Johnson Fouladpour (daughter Jamie Vouros), Pocatello, Idaho; former mother-in-law Ramona Kunz Johnson, Bern, Idaho; step-niece Camille Windley, Logan, Utah; step-nephew Todd E. Windley (Polly; children Matthew and Katrina), Logan, Utah; and many extended family and friends. He is also survived by his “great cat” Leonard.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, former father-in-law Earl Johnson, paternal grandparents Jesse and Mary Yergensen Christiansen, and maternal grandparents Charles and Sarah Bostock Steer.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 7, at 1:00 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center, Logan, Utah. At the family’s request there will be no public viewing, but visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the memorial service. Burial will be in the Logan City Cemetery.
Condolences and thoughts may be expressed to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net .
Bruce’s family wishes to thank the following for their care and compassion: Dr. Michael J. Stones, Budge Clinic; Intermountain Homecare & Hospice, particularly Hospice “Nurse Anna” Trappett, Shannon Rhodes, and Haley Hansen; the Logan Regional Hospital staff; Cache Valley - Logan City Ambulance; Dr. Ali Ben-Jacob and chemotherapy staff at Cache Valley Cancer Treatment and Research Center; Dr. Leslye Ingersoll and radiation staff at Cache Valley Cancer Treatment and Research Center / McKay-Dee Cancer Center; and Sunshine Terrace Rehabilitation Center.

Heartfelt thanks go out to numerous family and friends, whose acts of kindness will never be forgotten.
See you in the big morning, Bruce . . . Jill.