Every year for my birthday she would bake me a cake and my grandpa would decorate it. Mine always had a Halloween theme, I especially remember one cake with orange frosting and spiders all over it.
Speaking of food, she was an amazing cook. We ate at her house almost every Sunday for many years and my favorite things she made were creamed corn and apple sauce. She always put diced apples in her salad too. She made delicious pies and she knew that pumpkin was my favorite, but she noticed I never ate the crust, so one day she set a big bowl of pumpkin pie filling in front of me so she wouldn't have to see the crust go to waste.
A few times she picked me up from school and take me clothes shopping at Nordstrom's or ZCMI. I remember riding in the leather back seat of her Buick that was always spotlessly clean, but had BYU stickers pasted haphazardly on the bumper. She always had a Diet Coke in a glass with ice in the car and would listen to NPR. Once in Jr. High she bought me a coveted pair of Dr. Marten shoes. After shopping we would eat at the Nordstrom Cafe.
She loved BYU football and not much could pull her away from those games. I believe she missed my baptism for a game.
She had a quirky sense of humor and loved to say things to shock or embarrass people. I remember her talking very loudly about genital herpes in the Cowboy Grub, making an awkward sex joke at Red Robin, etc. She once asked my boyfriend (who is now my husband) if we had been downstairs showering together. AWKWARD! But as I got older I found her sense of humor to be less awkward and more hilarious.
She and my grandpa often invited my family to go eat at Cowboy Grub or Chuck A'Rama. Even though those aren't popular restaurants anymore, they are still some of my favorite restaurants!
Grandma June and my grandpa have spent the past several years in a rest home where they have experienced physical pain and faltering minds. I am glad my grandma has been able to leave this life and go on to a truly better place where she will be whole again. I know she will see my grandpa there soon!
OBITUARY:
1924 ~ 2012
BOUNTIFUL, UT-Talma "June" Dickson Christensen, age 87, passed peacefully on Aug. 10, 2012.
She was born Sept. 22, 1924 the 5th of seven children to Nemla "Faye" Tremor and Paul Talmage Dickson in Florence, Colorado. She was an influence for good in every life she came in contact with and will be greatly missed.
June was born with a strong work ethic. At the tender age of four she begged to milk the cows on her family farm. Her father told her she was too young. Undeterred, June was found climbing into the bull's pen to "milk" it. Her father relented and allowed her proper milking duty with her older sisters. She contracted and survived tuberculosis and small pox during childhood. A cowgirl at heart, she was the 1942 Rodeo Queen of Florence. At age 16,(1941) she met her eternal sweetheart, Dallis, a career naval officer and pilot. They began exchanging letters and in February 1943, Dallis called and asked June to marry him. Her surprised reply was that she would decide when she saw him again! So, Dallis arrived the following day. They married in Denver Colorado on February 15, 1943. Their "honeymoon" was the train ride to Utah to briefly meet his family, then back to Denver where she stayed with her mother while Dallis returned to war duty in the Bermudas. They reunited in June 1943 spending the rest of the war together stationed in Wildwood, New Jersey where Dallis was a test pilot and trainer for squadrons heading to the Pacific theater. As a Navy wife, June made a comfortable home wherever they were stationed. They became the parents of four daughters and one son.
While Dallis flew the Berlin Airlift, 1948 -1950 June began studying the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She read The Book of Mormon and determined its truthfulness. She was baptized by her husband in Massachusetts on March 10, 1950. Her strong testimony never faltered as she raised her family in the light of the gospel. They were sealed as an eternal family in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on November 30, 1956. June served faithfully in many church leadership callings throughout her life.
After Navy retirement, they settled in SLC, Utah and were members of the LDS East Millcreek 4th Ward for three years and then the Mt. Olympus 22nd Ward for 45 years. June took classes at Salt Lake Community College and the University of Utah. She was a nurse's aide for 20 years in the NICU at The University of Utah Hospital, and also worked in the newborn nursery at St. Mark's Hospital. She adored babies and took tender loving care of each one. An avid BYU Football fan, for many years she never missed a home game. Her sense of humor, quick wit, and funny laugh is treasured. She was a valiant and courageous woman, overcoming many hardships and enduring difficult trials. She always looked for the "silver lining". Our family wishes to thank the Inn on Barton Creek, the South Davis Hospice, and her Home Options caregivers especially Jeanette, Vivian, Jacelyn and Brenda.
June is survived by her devoted husband Dallis Joseph Christensen with whom she shared 69 ½ wonderful years. Their enduring love for each other is an example to all of us. She is also survived by her five children; Linda (Ray) Seely, Cheryl (Bill) Zurcher, Janet (Frank) Lewis, Kris (John) Berg, Dallis (Carolyn) Christensen, 19 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren all whom she adored, and two sisters Lola Fuller and Doris Walker. She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings; Ted Dickson, Marcia Dickson, Verl Smith and Betty Tanner, and three grandchildren; Mary Zurcher, age 19, and babies David and Elizabeth Seely. "June, you were the wind beneath my wings, love Dallis."
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 18th from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Holladay 25th Ward LDS Chapel 4650 So. Nanaloa Drive (2800 E.) Viewing held one hour prior, 12:00-12:45 p.m. Interment at the Holladay Memorial Cemetery.
1924 ~ 2012
BOUNTIFUL, UT-Talma "June" Dickson Christensen, age 87, passed peacefully on Aug. 10, 2012.
She was born Sept. 22, 1924 the 5th of seven children to Nemla "Faye" Tremor and Paul Talmage Dickson in Florence, Colorado. She was an influence for good in every life she came in contact with and will be greatly missed.
June was born with a strong work ethic. At the tender age of four she begged to milk the cows on her family farm. Her father told her she was too young. Undeterred, June was found climbing into the bull's pen to "milk" it. Her father relented and allowed her proper milking duty with her older sisters. She contracted and survived tuberculosis and small pox during childhood. A cowgirl at heart, she was the 1942 Rodeo Queen of Florence. At age 16,(1941) she met her eternal sweetheart, Dallis, a career naval officer and pilot. They began exchanging letters and in February 1943, Dallis called and asked June to marry him. Her surprised reply was that she would decide when she saw him again! So, Dallis arrived the following day. They married in Denver Colorado on February 15, 1943. Their "honeymoon" was the train ride to Utah to briefly meet his family, then back to Denver where she stayed with her mother while Dallis returned to war duty in the Bermudas. They reunited in June 1943 spending the rest of the war together stationed in Wildwood, New Jersey where Dallis was a test pilot and trainer for squadrons heading to the Pacific theater. As a Navy wife, June made a comfortable home wherever they were stationed. They became the parents of four daughters and one son.
While Dallis flew the Berlin Airlift, 1948 -1950 June began studying the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She read The Book of Mormon and determined its truthfulness. She was baptized by her husband in Massachusetts on March 10, 1950. Her strong testimony never faltered as she raised her family in the light of the gospel. They were sealed as an eternal family in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on November 30, 1956. June served faithfully in many church leadership callings throughout her life.
After Navy retirement, they settled in SLC, Utah and were members of the LDS East Millcreek 4th Ward for three years and then the Mt. Olympus 22nd Ward for 45 years. June took classes at Salt Lake Community College and the University of Utah. She was a nurse's aide for 20 years in the NICU at The University of Utah Hospital, and also worked in the newborn nursery at St. Mark's Hospital. She adored babies and took tender loving care of each one. An avid BYU Football fan, for many years she never missed a home game. Her sense of humor, quick wit, and funny laugh is treasured. She was a valiant and courageous woman, overcoming many hardships and enduring difficult trials. She always looked for the "silver lining". Our family wishes to thank the Inn on Barton Creek, the South Davis Hospice, and her Home Options caregivers especially Jeanette, Vivian, Jacelyn and Brenda.
June is survived by her devoted husband Dallis Joseph Christensen with whom she shared 69 ½ wonderful years. Their enduring love for each other is an example to all of us. She is also survived by her five children; Linda (Ray) Seely, Cheryl (Bill) Zurcher, Janet (Frank) Lewis, Kris (John) Berg, Dallis (Carolyn) Christensen, 19 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren all whom she adored, and two sisters Lola Fuller and Doris Walker. She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings; Ted Dickson, Marcia Dickson, Verl Smith and Betty Tanner, and three grandchildren; Mary Zurcher, age 19, and babies David and Elizabeth Seely. "June, you were the wind beneath my wings, love Dallis."
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 18th from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Holladay 25th Ward LDS Chapel 4650 So. Nanaloa Drive (2800 E.) Viewing held one hour prior, 12:00-12:45 p.m. Interment at the Holladay Memorial Cemetery.
Nice tribute Melissa! Dad thinks you should be speaking at the funeral instead of him!
ReplyDeleteThanks for inviting me to your blog! It will be fun to keep in touch this way. I'm sorry you lost your Grandma and that you're too far away to be with family. She sounds like a fun lady. I'm sure we'll see you soon! -Traci
ReplyDeleteso sorry to hear about your grandma. how wonderful that you have so many great memories of her!
ReplyDelete