Resident of the month

Doris Christensen Resident of the Month

Doris Anita Christensen was born May 17, 1923 in Davenport, Iowa – the daughter of Leona (Bales) and Burt Sohr.  At the time of her birth, her father was working as a clown in the Ringling Brothers’ Circus.  Her parents were divorced when she was in elementary school – she moved to Clinton, Iowa where she was raised during her formative years by her three aunts.  She met her husband, Victor Christensen, at business school after graduating and they married October 24, 1942.

They had four children: David, Cheryl, Kay and Keith, and Doris has been blessed with 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. 

Her family is scattered from coast-to-coast (Washington, DC, Portland, OR, Newport, OR, Reno, NV, and Morro Bay CA as well as her son and daughter -in- law Keith Christensen and Dawn Deines-Christensen here in Decorah, who have been her primary caregivers for the past 8 years). 

When her husband was serving in WW11(Army, Pacific deployment, ) Doris served as a secretary to then Governor Earl Warren in Sacramento, CA who became a supreme court justice after that. She returned to Iowa when her first child was due. Doris was known as the consummate entertainer and cook/baker- at one time baking and decorating elaborate  wedding cakes(and for her kids: birthday cakes). Her career re-started after the children grew up- spending time in the insurance business and then becoming a licensed Realtor and eventually a broker for her own agency in Clinton, Iowa. 

Congratulations Doris in being chosen as resident of the month. We are glad you are part of the Wellington Place family.