Ivan Christensen

A celebration of Ivan's life was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Rock Haven Church in Montevideo, MN. Burial was in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo was in charge of arrangements. Ivan was born October 14, 1934, in a farmhouse in Gregory County, SD. He was born the fourth of five sons to Edward and Mary (Hull) Christensen. At an early age, Ivan found he had a knack for fixing anything with a motor. Therefore, to earn money for a car he started working at the age of 14, doing odd jobs for the neighboring farmers. Ivan followed in his brothers’ footsteps by deciding to serve our country and enlisted into the U.S. Army in June 1956. After basic training, he spent 14 months as a military police officer in Germany. The last five months of his military career were spent at Fort Benning, GA. After honorable discharge he served four years in the South Dakota National Guard. Ivan married Luella (Swift) in November 1956 while home on military leave.

After his military career he and Luella returned to Gregory, SD, where he renewed his skills in motor repair by working for Newsam Chevrolet, then Cahoy Motors in Winner SD. In 1967 he had a desire to improve the opportunities for his family and trusted God’s plan, which led him to move his family to Montevideo MN. Together he and Luella opened Ivan’s Mobile Service Center, which they owned and operated until 1990. As a gifted, honest and trustworthy mechanic, he had loyal customers which meant long hours at the station doing auto maintenance and repairs. He also assisted travelers in urgent need as he provided a 24-hour, 7 days a week wrecker service. In 1990 they sold the business, and he went to work for NAPA Auto Parts, retiring when he was in his early 80s.

He lived by God’s teaching and demonstrated it by helping others in various ways throughout his life. He was a pillar in his church, serving in many roles as a leader, mentor, and financial and spiritual supporter. He also guided others to the Lord by being active with numerous church youth programs. Ivan and Luella frequently chaperoned youth outings and he was known to many as “Drivin’ Ivan”. Ivan used the church bus as one of his vehicles in which to share the gospel by driving it for the Teen Tones youth singing group, as well as bringing kids to learn about Christ by picking them up for Sunday School. Ivan was the first to volunteer when there was work to be done on the church building, the lawn needed to be mowed, or the leaves needed to be raked. Ivan was also driven to share his love of the Lord outside of the church by being an active member of Gideons. Through Gideons he ministered to others by visiting people in jail, sponsored and delivered Bibles, and spoke to congregations in other churches.

Ivan enjoyed challenges and problem solving. He was often others’ first call for advice, when needing a helping hand or simply to figure out how to complete a project. He upcycled by collecting broken motors, equipment or general items requiring repair that others had given up, on and brought them back to life. He frequently would give the repaired product to someone in need, only to pick up more “junk” to repeat the process.

Ivan had several hobbies besides repairing things, he enjoyed doing almost anything that kept his hands busy. He was a creative woodworker, building several items for his family. He had a green thumb and enjoyed both flower and vegetable gardening. He loved spending time with family, being at the lake, boating, pulling his children on water skis and most of all, fishing. Ivan and Luella purchased a lake cabin which allowed for some great lake family memories to be created. Ivan and Luella enjoyed traveling and took time off each summer to take their kids around the United States camping. Over his lifetime, visited all fifty states.

Four children were blessed to call Ivan “dad” and many others were blessed to have his positive influence on their lives as a foster dad.

Ivan is survived by his wife Luella, son Tim and wife Betty, daughters Marcy and fiancé, Doug Nickel, Carla and husband, Craig Olson and Luann and husband, Bryan Heubrock; eight grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren; brother Dale; and many nephews and nieces.

Ivan Christensen passed away at home with his wife of 67 years, Luella, and his children by his side.

Preceding Ivan in death were his parents; infant brother Laurel; brothers Lyle and Richard; and sisters-in-law Viola, Barbara, and Gloria.

To sum up how Ivan lived his life, Pastor Jason was recently overheard telling Ivan “When you meet Jesus he is going to tell you, Well done my faithful servant, well done.” Ivan was a true man of God who lived to serve others and demonstrated daily how to love thy neighbor.