Christian Bennett Christianson (1874-1961)

Christian Bennett Christianson was born on 28 Sep 1874 in Udolpho Township of Mower County, Minnesota, as the third child of Björn Christianson Rukke and Barebo Engebretsdtr Torset. He had nine siblings, namely: Ragnild, Mary, Ingebret B, Jorgine Caroline, Clara Bertina, Lena Randina, Maline, Inga Oline, and Bennett Marebo. He was baptized on 25 Oct 1874 and confirmed on 19 May 1889 in Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, Austin, Mower, Minnesota. He was a lifelong member of Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church. Christian Bennett was known as C.B.

When he was 23, C.B. married Bertha H Stemson, daughter of Halvor Stemson and Birgit Nilsdtr Lostegaard, on 05 Mar 1898 in Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, Austin, Mower, Minnesota.

Christian Bennett Christianson and Bertha H Stemson had the following children:

1. Blanche Birgithe Christianson was born on 06 Dec 1898 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota. She married George Oliver Knutson on 23 Feb 1927 in Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, Austin, Mower, Minnesota. She died on 27 Jun 1990 in Blooming Prairie, Steele, Minnesota at age 91.
2. Hilda Bertine Christianson was born on 14 Oct 1900 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota. She married Carl Sanford Swenson on 29 Mar 1922 in St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin, Mower, Minnesota. She died on 05 Mar 1940 in Nicollet, Minnesota at age 39.
3. Bennett Nils Christianson was born on 14 Oct 1902 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota. He married Margaret Olga Aldahl on 21 May 1930 in Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, Austin, Mower, Minnesota. He died on 14 Nov 2000 in Albert Lea, Freeborn, Minnesota at age 98.
4. Charles Bernhard Christianson was born on 03 Oct 1904 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota, USA.  He married Ruth Agnes Nelson on 22 Oct 1932 in First Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie, Steele, Minnesota. He died on 28 Feb 1990 in Austin, Mower, Minnesota at age 85.
5. Inez Ruby Christianson was born on 06 Nov 1906 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota. She married Richard Freeman Noble on 27 Mar 1929 in Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, Austin, Mower, Minnesota. She died on 18 Nov 1995 in Austin, Mower, Minnesota at age 89.
6. Lawrence Richard Christianson was born on 29 Oct 1908 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota. He married Mildred Helena Peterson on 11 Mar 1936 in Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, Austin, Mower, Minnesota. He died on 28 Oct 1991 in Austin, Mower, Minnesota at age 82.
7. Merril Clifford Christianson was born on 14 Jan 1911 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota. He died on 23 Jan 1912 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota a few days after his first birthday.
8. Clifford Selmer Christianson was born on 13 Nov 1912 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota, USA. He married Marjorie Elaine Nagel on 30 Apr 1958 in Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota. He died on 15 Jun 1986 in St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota at age 73.
9. Orville Byron Christianson was born on 12 Jan 1915 in Newry, Freeborn, Minnesota. He married Helen Margaret Thompson on 23 Jan 1943 in El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma. He died on 03 May 1995 in Good Samaritan Center, Albert Lea, Freeborn, Minnesota at age 80.
10. Ivan Gilmer Christianson was born on 09 Aug 1918 in Udolpho Township, Mower, Minnesota, USA. He married Mildred Katherine Benesh in Blooming Prairie, Steele, Minnesota. He died on 16 Dec 2011 in Austin, Mower, Minnesota at age 93.
11. Arnold Raymond Christianson was born on 21 Feb 1920 in Udolpho Township, Mower, Minnesota. He married Rayma Arliene Peterson on 29 Jul 1945 in Mower, Minnesota. He died on 02 Feb 2016 in Austin, Mower, Minnesota at age 95.

When they were first married, C.B. and Bertha lived on a farm in Newry Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota. But later they moved to a larger farm in Udolpho Township, Mower, Minnesota. He was a farmer, but was also very active in community and church affairs.

Christian Bennett Christianson died on 01 Jan 1961 in Austin, Mower, Minnesota, at age 86. He was buried on 05 Jan 1961 in Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Where is he in the tree?

How can I learn more?

You are in luck! Earlier this month, I completed my book on this family. Christian Bennett Christianson and his descendants have their own lengthy chapter. If you want to learn more, this book will be of interest.

The Christianson Family

• Publication date: September 2016
• Pages: 736
• Formats
  • Hardcover
  • Paperback
  • Digital (PDF)
• This book traces the descendants of Ole Thorson Tollefsgardie who was born about 1777 in Flå,Buskerud,Norway. These descendants number in the thousands, have lived in far corners of the world, and have been known by many different surnames. Extended biographies are included for the families of Ole Thorson Tollefsgardie; his son, Christian Oleson Rukke; his son, Björn Christianson Rukke; his son, Christian Bennett Christianson; and finally, for his son, Bennett Nils Christianson.