Richard Stansfield Christensen, age 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 18, 2022. He will long be remembered for his always-learning mind, teasing demeanor, kindness and complete selflessness.
Richard was born on April 26, 1932, in Mt Pleasant, Utah to Jessie Stansfield and Arthur Linden Christensen. He grew up in Fairview where he gained his love for the outdoors. He was the youngest and was adored by his three older sisters. He graduated from Spanish Fork High School. After helping build his parents’ home he joined the US Army and was deployed to Korea where he trained soldiers in heavy artillery. Upon returning he met Sharon Luella Ward while cruising passed the BYU dorms. They were married on December 13, 1958, and later sealed for eternity in the Provo Temple. Together they raised four children.
Having learned carpentry from his father and with his savings, he and his wife started their business, RS Christensen Construction. Dick built homes for three decades, being awarded Utah’s #1 home builder two years in a row. He served as the Utah Valley Homebuilder’s Vice President and President and helped begin the Utah Valley Parade of Homes program which is still running today.
Dick loved the great outdoors, especially hiking, hunting, fly fishing, and ‘the cabin.’ He loved the big crashing waves of the ocean and sunsets with his family. His greatest joy was to take his family with him on many adventures. He had remarkable stamina and energy, hiking the Grand Canyon at the age of 70 and Havasupai falls at age 84. He passed on to his children the desire to work hard and to save every penny. Dick was blessed with and developed many talents as a fine woodworker, landscape artist, and master gardener. His past times eventually led to award-winning intricate lathe-turned wood bowls and beautifully handmade frames for his oil paintings. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and he and Sharon served a mission at the Lindon Cannery.
Richard is survived by his wife Sharon and their children, Bry (Cheri) Christensen, Den (Lila) Christensen, Denise Durrans and Serena (Mark) Warner, 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Jean Smith. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 21, 2022.
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