Lillian was born August 16, 1921 in Garrison, North Dakota, and died May 16, 2014. Upon graduation from teachers' college in North Dakota she answered an ad recruiting teachers in Eatonville, WA, where she met and married Don Christensen. In 1960 the family relocated to Parkland where she continued to teach first grade and was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Lillian and Don were longtime members of the Tacoma Yacht Club and spent many happy summer vacations cruising the Canadian Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast. Lillian loved to travel and kept detailed journals of her trips to Mexico, Hawaii, Europe, Egypt, Israel, Brazil, Alaska, and Australia.
After retirement they purchased property at the Happy Wanderer in Indio, CA and spent many sunny winters there. In 1985 they built their dream retirement home in Gig Harbor where Lillian enthusiastically took up gardening. Lillian was proud of living independently in her beautiful home until the end.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Ella Callies; brother, Herb; husband, Don; and infant daughters, Mary Ann and Judith.
She is survived by her daughter, Carol (Ake) Palm; her grandchildren, Kristoffer Palm (Rhea George), Michael Palm (Emilia), and Annika Palm; and great granddaughter, Ariella Lillian Palm.
This kind and generous woman, great teacher, devoted wife and mother, and loyal friend will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she touched. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude Children's Hospital (www.stjude.org).
Please visit www.newtacoma.com for our online guestbook.
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