Ted Christensen

Richfield, Utah - Ted Vernal Christensen, age 94, of Richfield, died July 6 from natural causes. At the time he was living at the Legacy House in Spanish Fork with his wife of 74 years, Leila.

Ted was born June 26, 1929, to Vernal Albert and Lucinda Shepherd Christensen in Gunnison, Utah. His youth was spent in Salina, where he helped his father on the farm. He liked to tell the story of German prisoners of war during World War II who were housed in the Citizen Conservation Corp building in Salina. Then 15 years old, Ted acted as supervisor over work details, becoming good friends with the prisoners. He would say, “They didn’t want to be part of the war anymore than we did.”

He married Leila Sorensen April 14, 1949. This marriage was later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple. He served several positions in the LDS Church, including Stake High Council. Ted and Leila served as ordinance workers in the Manti LDS Temple, where he also served as a Sealer.

Ted was an avid farmer and worked for the Utah Department of Transportation for 35 years. He started as a surveyor, was promoted to project engineer, then to District Construction Engineer. He retired in 1987 after 35 years with UDOT.

His farming was initially a sideline with an 80-acre farm Sanpete County. He later temporarily quit working for UDOT, purchased an additional 240 acres and became a fulltime farmer. Three years later he returned to UDOT and assumed his position as project engineer, was transferred to Richfield where he later became District Construction Engineer.

Ted and Leila were avid snowbirds, spending many winters in southern Arizona.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Leila; children: Michael (Kathy) Christensen, Steven Christensen, Kim (Sonja) Christensen; Sherry (Mark) Trotter and Sandee Loader; 14 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren; a brother, Ross (Emily) Christensen.

He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Bud Shepherd, Bruce Ray Christensen and Kent Christensen.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 12 Noon in the Springer Turner Funeral Home Chapel in Richfield, where friends may call for viewing Tuesday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 prior to the services.

Live streaming of the services can be found at: www.springerturner.com under Ted’s obituary about 15 minutes prior to starting time.

FUNERAL LIVESTREAM

Ted will be laid to rest in the Salina Eastside Cemetery next to his mother and father under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.