Beatrice Alta Christensen

Beatrice (Bea) A. Beckler was born, the fifth of twelve children, to Mathew and Ella (Hoth) Beckler on March 11, 1928, on a farm near Scranton in Bowman County, ND. There was a blizzard preventing travel that day, so her dad delivered her at home. She came into this world weighing 2 ½ pounds and was placed in a shoe box on the water reservoir on the stove to stay warm. She attended grade school in a one room school house called Eden #1 and then Eden #2. After completing 8th grade, she graduated from Scranton High School in 1948.

At the age of 19, Bea went to Dickinson, ND to stay with her sister Ruth until she found work as a waitress at City Café. There, she met Darrell Christensen and on April 29, 1949, Bea and Darrell were married at Peace Lutheran Church in Scranton, ND.

While in Dickinson, Bea worked for S & L Department Store and Buttrey Shoe Department. Then in 1951, she began work as a receptionist at Roger and Gumper Clinic and remained there until her husband was transferred to Carrington, ND in 1954, where they remained for 10 years. After that, Darrell was transferred to Jamestown, ND and then onto Fargo, ND, where they remained. They made a home together on Park Drive, where they raised their 4 children and became affectionately known as the “Bea and the Bear.”

Bea’s main priorities in life were her family and church. She also loved music and liked to play the banjo. In fact, all her family members were musical, and they all played instruments. In addition, Bea was Vice President of her circle and belonged to Homemakers, and Birthday Club.

Eventually, after many years of living on Park Drive, Bea and Darrell moved to One Oak Place where they both enjoyed meeting many more residents that went on to become close friends. Later, Bea moved to Eventide Assisted Living in Fargo and subsequently spent her last couple of years at Eventide Skilled Nursing. She made countless friends at Eventide, both residents and staff.

Bea was a person who truly left an impression on all who interacted with her; “she was our Angel on Earth.” She was known to be the most patient, kind, positive, gracious, grateful person by friends, family, including staff that she regarded as her family as well. Bea was truly loved and she never faltered from loving everyone she ever knew.

She is survived by her daughters, Lynn Elliot, Fargo, ND, Kristine (Mark) Malmberg, Fargo, ND; son, Douglas Christensen, Phoenix, AZ; 5 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and sister, Holly (Jeff) Baier, Napa, CA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Darrell Christensen; son, Curtis Christensen; five sisters, Dorrace, Joan, Shirley, Ruth, and Thelma; five brothers, David, Warren, Milan, Milton, and Gary; and one grandchild, Tina.
“Goodbye for now, but just for now.”