Frederick "Fred" T. Christensen

Fred T. Christensen

Fred T. Christensen, 70, died Dec. 25, 1996 at the Wyoming Medical Center, after a short illness. Funeral services were Dec. 28, 1996, at Bader Funeral Home. The Rev. Delia Fay officiated and music was provided by Rose Kremers, organist. Active pall bearers were Bill, Mark, Mike, Steve and Tom Christensen, Doug Francis and Jake Reed. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery. Memorials are to the Lusk Senior Citizens Center.

He was born Aug.3, 1926, at Newcastle to Chris and Ann (Trapp) Christensen. He grew up on their Cheyenne River ranch west of Mule Creek Junction, attending country school, and then high school in Newcastle, graduating in 1944. He enlisted in the U. S. Air Force, and was stationed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the Antilles Air Command, patrolling the Caribbean area and South America.

After being discharged in 1946, he attended the University of Wyoming and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

As a youth, he began his trapping career with a trap line along the Cheyenne River. He trapped for the State of Wyoming from 1954 to 1957. Then he began with Predatory Animal Control for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, living in Casper, Rawlins and Rock Springs. In 1959, he became district supervisor in Elko, Neb., transferring to San Antonio, Texas, in 1963 to become assistant supervisor for the U. S. Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wild life.

In 1967, he and his family moved back to Casper, as the Wyoming State Supervisor for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Animal Damage Control, retiring in 1986.

For years, he had run livestock on the Cheyenne River ranch, partly with his brother, Russ. Both before and since retirement, he had a great deal of enjoyment from riding in planes and helicopters as a gunner, shooting predators. He was an enthusiastic horse racing fan. He took great pride in growing and maintaining his garden, flowers and lawn in fine shape.

At the University of Wyoming, he belonged to the Flying Club and to the Beta Theta Alpha social fraternity. He was a life member of National Rifle Association and BPOE Elks. He also belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He married Jessie Wood, daughter of Ben and Nadine (Driskell) Wood, July 23, 1950 in Belle Fourche, S. D. She died April 22, 1995.

Survivors include sons Steve and his friend Karen, Mark and Tye Christensen of Casper, and Scott and Betsy Christensen of Perris, Calif.; sister Jean Freeman of Casper; brother C. Russell Christensen of the Cheyenne River ranch; and granddaughter Chynna Christensen of Casper.

In addition to his wife he was preceded in death by his parents.

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