Milly Christiansen, 93

Millicent "Milly" W. Christiansen, 93, died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at Prescott Nursing and Rehabilitation Community.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, and 1 hour prior to the 2 p.m. funeral service on Thursday, Sept. 22, at United Church of Christ, Prescott, Wis.

Milly was born on Sept. 21, 1917, in St. Paul, Minn., to Ernest and Margaret Weschcke. She attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., for 2 years before transferring to the University of Minnesota. After graduating with a B.S. degree in agriculture, she moved to a farm in Prescott. While farming she met Stanley Christiansen of Trimbelle Township, Wis., who enlisted in the Marines in 1942. Stanley served at Paris Island and in the Pacific Theater during WWII. During a brief shore leave, Stan and Milly were married on May 13, 1944, in San Francisco, Calif. Following the war, Stan and Milly continued their farming operation at Pine Coulee Farm. Milly continued farming several years after Stanley was elected Pierce County Sheriff In 1974.

Milly followed her passion for horses, raising Belgians and Thoroughbreds for pleasure and competitions. She was a very active member of the United Church of Christ as well as Pierce County associations including Farm Bureau, 4-H, and the Pierce County Youth Services. She and Stan supported local Boy Scout troops by opening their farm for Jamborees and camping. In the late 1960s and 1970s, Milly devoted much of her home and time to numerous humanitarian efforts. First working alone and later through Operation Hope, and always with the help of numerous local volunteers, she collected, cleaned, and repaired toys, clothing, books, and essential items for the Native Americans of the Dakotas and Montana and for residents of Arkansas. Though injuries from a 1985 car accident left Milly paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, she remained active in her church and traveled throughout the states with her husband.

Millicent is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Kim and Becky Christiansen of Ames, Iowa; her daughter and son-in-law Jan and Larry Gordon of Dobson, N.C.; her sisters, Henriette Klingel Johnsen of Eagan, Minn., and Beatrice Asfeld of St. Paul, Minn.; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Millicent was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband, Stanley, in 1996; her daughter Dana Christiansen in 2004; and her daughter Margaret Kelly in 2007.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to the United Church of Christ, Prescott, or Friends of Freedom Park, Prescott.

Hill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements. To send an online condolence to the family, go to www.hillfuneralservice.com.

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