LLOYD PHILLIP CHRISTIANSON

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LLOYD PHILLIP CHRISTIANSON Born June 26, 1921 in Minneota, Minnesota to Arni and Ethel (Athelbjorg) Christianson. Passed from this world November 18, 2010 at Charleswood Care Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dad had two brothers, Ron and Robert, and two sisters, Vivian and Grace - all preceded him in death. His growing up years were typical small town Midwest years. He played baseball and basketball, earned the nickname Shadow , worked with his Dad in the heating oil delivery business, and worked the farm fields around Minneota. But Lloyd had a real desire to see the world beyond Minneota. That journey began in the summer of '42 when he enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet program and was assigned to Huron, SD that Fall. Pre-flight school took him to the University of Iowa, primary training to Olathe, KS and he graduated as a Naval Aviator in Pensacola, FL in November, 1943. Half of his class was assigned to sea duty and half to shore duty. He became a flight instructor and graduated Flight Instructor School, Atlanta, GA February 1, 1944. The next 12 months were spent instructing cadets, including six months as a PBY instructor. The next assignment was to Honolulu and the various Pacific Islands. Dad was seeing the world! He married in October, 1945 and left Active Naval Duty in May, 1946 with a personal letter of commendation from none other than James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, who later became the first US Secretary of Defense. His love to serve his country reclaimed him in 1951 with enlistment in the Naval Reserves. In 1953, he was called up briefly for the Korean conflict. The war ended just prior to his deployment to the Philippines. During his stateside deployment he flew the P-5M Marlins - the flying boats . Life progressed for Lloyd in the SF Bay Area with employment for the Ford Motor Company and IBM. He rounded out the rest of his activities with raising his children, Jill and Larry, volunteer efforts with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, golfing, playing bridge and socializing with friends and family through those middle years. In 1972, Lloyd and his wife of 27 years went their separate ways. Life after that for Lloyd was spent getting back to his Icelandic roots. It was during 1977 while attending an uncle's 50th wedding anniversary that he met Yvonne. They were married later that year and Lloyd returned to work for IBM, but in Canada this time, alternating between Winnipeg and Victoria. In 1986 Lloyd cut the cord with work and began really getting involved with Canadian Icelandic activities. He was President of and sang in the Scandinavian Canadian Choir. He was on the Board of Directors of two Icelandic publications, took photos and wrote articles for - Lögberg-Heimskringla and the Icelandic Canadian magazine. He and Yvonne participated as often as possible in the Icelandic Festival in Gimli and at the Scandinavian Pavilion during Folklorama. In the early 90s, it became apparent that Lloyd was beginning to suffer that insidious disease known as Alzheimer's, or the long goodbye . His mental capacity gradually diminished until Yvonne had to make the painful decision to turn his care over to professionals. His last days were spent at Charleswood Care Centre in Winnipeg. The staff as a whole were extremely fond of Lloyd. Their words that sum up his life and their feelings? He was a sweet man . . . His funeral service will be held Saturday, November 27 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bardal Funeral Home, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg. Tributes and photos may be viewed at www.nbardal.mb.ca. Click on Lloyd Christianson on the right panel. NEIL BARDAL INC. FUNERAL CENTRE (204) 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 26, 2010