DOROTHY MAE CHRISTENSON
DOROTHY MAE CHRISTENSON
Dorothy Mae Christenson, 83, of Hixton, WI, passed away peacefully Feb. 7, 2026, at Pigeon Falls Healthcare Center.
She was born Dec. 12, 1942, in Black River Falls (Brockway), WI, to Edward and Betty (Poff) Gehring. Dorothy grew up in Black River Falls, where she graduated from high school.
On Feb. 12, 1966, she married Larry Dean Christenson in Blair, WI. Together, they built a home in Hixton and raised three sons - Dean, Duane and Dennis - creating a warm and lively household filled with love and laughter. Dorothy began her working years at Grandview Nursing Home in Blair before moving into her longtime and much-loved career as a school bus driver. She also worked in the school lunchrooms, where her kindness and steady presence touched many students over the years.
She was known for her creativity and generosity - baking cakes for birthdays, weddings and special occasions and crafting tie blankets that became treasured gifts. Dorothy loved visiting with people, family gatherings for holidays and birthday parties, laughing, dancing and her sweets. She especially cherished time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whether coloring together or simply enjoying their company.
She is survived by her sister, Mary (Gehring) Reinstra; two brothers-in-law, Victor Johnson and Ronald Christenson; and her two sons, Dean (Donna) Christenson of Northfield and Duane (Katy) Christenson of Black River Falls. Dorothy was blessed with six grandchildren - Derick (Leanne) Christenson, Jennifer (Brandon) Prew, Christopher (Trisha) Christenson, Kasondra, Elly and Jennings Christenson - and 15 great-grandchildren, all of whom brought her immense joy.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; her youngest son, Dennis; her parents, Edward and Betty Gehring; her sisters, Betty (Gehring) Johnson and Marjorie (Gehring) Lechner; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jennings and Grace Christenson.
Visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 20, at Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home in Hixton from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Hixton at 11 a.m., with a lunch in the church basement following the cemetery service. She will be laid to rest in Sechlerville Cemetery, alongside her husband, Larry, and her son, Dennis.
The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the Pigeon Falls Healthcare Center staff for the care and kindness shown to Dorothy during her time there, and to St. Croix Hospice for their dedicated service and support during her final days.