Obituary for Douglas Kay Christensen
Douglas Kay Christensen came into the world on February 6, 1942. He was the third of seven children born to McKay Christensen and Josephine Johnson Christensen, who raised their children in Payson, Utah.
Doug enjoyed building model cars and trains as a boy, and excelled in drama, speech, and music as a young man. He loved working alongside his dad in the family garden as well as in the family’s department store.
Doug served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the London, England area. Following his mission, Doug studied at both BYU and the University of Utah where he received an MBA degree. He married Karen Kimber in 1963 and they were blessed with three children: Marion, David, and Scott. This marriage ended after ten years. Douglas married Arlene Kay Alvord in 1974 and they were later sealed in the Provo Temple by Doug’s father, McKay Christensen. Douglas gained a fourth child with Arlene’s son, Shawn. Doug and Arlene were later blessed with four more children: Karla, Johanna, Deanna, and Jared. In addition to these eight children, Doug and Arlene were foster parents to Burt, Tomeo, Ed, Gregg, Alison, Maury, James, Lauren, and Megan. All were welcome in their home.
An excellent businessman, Doug worked for several retail chains before opening Christensen’s Department Store in Tooele, Utah in 1978. Doug and Arlene left Tooele and took over management of the Christensen's store in Vernal, Utah in 1989. In 2001, Doug and Arlene closed their Vernal store and moved to Twin Falls, Idaho where they became partners with some of their children in a home furnishings business. Doug retired from retail in 2007.
Doug had a great love for music, especially classical music. When Doug lived in Vernal, Utah, he founded a local symphony orchestra where he served as conductor for several years. Another great passion was the Book of Mormon and the modern-day residents of those ancient lands. Doug made several trips to Mesoamerica to study archaeology and serve the local people. He served in many capacities in his faith including Bishop and Gospel Doctrine teacher. In his later years, Doug pursued the passions of his youth: model trains and gardening, and he excelled at both.
In 2019, and after a lifetime of recurrent health issues, Doug was diagnosed with dementia. Doug’s sweetheart Arlene, along with all his children, cared for him at home until Doug’s physical needs exceeded their abilities. He spent a few months in a memory care facility until his physical health failed. The family brought him home on Sunday, September 13. Douglas drew his last breath in the early afternoon of September 14, 2020, surrounded by his family, with his sweetheart Arlene and several of his children and grandchildren at his bedside. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and all those whose lives he touched.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, September 26, 2020 at the Detweiler’s Farm at 2672 East 4100 North in Buhl, ID on Google Maps. Interment will be at the West End Cemetery in Buhl, Idaho. A live video stream is available at https://youtu.be/Hz1BBBafVrI or by the Webcast link in the photo section of his obituary page.
Doug enjoyed building model cars and trains as a boy, and excelled in drama, speech, and music as a young man. He loved working alongside his dad in the family garden as well as in the family’s department store.
Doug served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the London, England area. Following his mission, Doug studied at both BYU and the University of Utah where he received an MBA degree. He married Karen Kimber in 1963 and they were blessed with three children: Marion, David, and Scott. This marriage ended after ten years. Douglas married Arlene Kay Alvord in 1974 and they were later sealed in the Provo Temple by Doug’s father, McKay Christensen. Douglas gained a fourth child with Arlene’s son, Shawn. Doug and Arlene were later blessed with four more children: Karla, Johanna, Deanna, and Jared. In addition to these eight children, Doug and Arlene were foster parents to Burt, Tomeo, Ed, Gregg, Alison, Maury, James, Lauren, and Megan. All were welcome in their home.
An excellent businessman, Doug worked for several retail chains before opening Christensen’s Department Store in Tooele, Utah in 1978. Doug and Arlene left Tooele and took over management of the Christensen's store in Vernal, Utah in 1989. In 2001, Doug and Arlene closed their Vernal store and moved to Twin Falls, Idaho where they became partners with some of their children in a home furnishings business. Doug retired from retail in 2007.
Doug had a great love for music, especially classical music. When Doug lived in Vernal, Utah, he founded a local symphony orchestra where he served as conductor for several years. Another great passion was the Book of Mormon and the modern-day residents of those ancient lands. Doug made several trips to Mesoamerica to study archaeology and serve the local people. He served in many capacities in his faith including Bishop and Gospel Doctrine teacher. In his later years, Doug pursued the passions of his youth: model trains and gardening, and he excelled at both.
In 2019, and after a lifetime of recurrent health issues, Doug was diagnosed with dementia. Doug’s sweetheart Arlene, along with all his children, cared for him at home until Doug’s physical needs exceeded their abilities. He spent a few months in a memory care facility until his physical health failed. The family brought him home on Sunday, September 13. Douglas drew his last breath in the early afternoon of September 14, 2020, surrounded by his family, with his sweetheart Arlene and several of his children and grandchildren at his bedside. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and all those whose lives he touched.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, September 26, 2020 at the Detweiler’s Farm at 2672 East 4100 North in Buhl, ID on Google Maps. Interment will be at the West End Cemetery in Buhl, Idaho. A live video stream is available at https://youtu.be/Hz1BBBafVrI or by the Webcast link in the photo section of his obituary page.