Frances Irene "Fritz" Christensen, 98, of Beresford, South Dakota passed away Sunday, April 24, 2016 at Bethesda of Beresford.

She was born December 7, 1917 to John & Marie Orton in Sioux County, Ireton Iowa. Frances attended both rural schools and Ireton High School.

Frances was united in marriage to Melvin Christensen in Hawarden, Iowa on December 7, 1935.  They moved to rural Beresford (Alsen area) where they farmed and started their family. The family moved to Gresham, OR during the war returning, to the Beresford area (Alsen) in March of 1948 to take over the family farm. Fritz was busy working on the farm, a homemaker and mother raising their 5 children, Bev, Bill, Janice, Ron & Don. She enjoyed spending time with her family, flowers and baking. She also liked playing cards, bingo and the winters down south in McAllen Tx.

She was a member of the Zion United Methodist Church in Beresford, SD.

Grateful for having shared her life are her sister Leona Smizer of Hawarden Ia, brother John (Marilyn) Orton of Hawarden Ia,  her children, Bill (Lorena) Christensen of Scottsdale, Az, Janice Clark (Surprise, Az), Ron (Lin) Christensen of Beresford SD,  and Don Christensen of Beresford SD, 14 Grandchildren Wayne (Char) Johansen of Ham Lake, Mn, Paula (Gerry) Carr of Newcastle Wy, Rod (Pam) Johansen of Ham Lake, Mn, Stacey (Earl) Sallee of Rapid City, SD, Anna (Bill) Betzolt of Peoria, Az, Vori (Frank) Marson of Houston, Tx, Norma (Hank) Rich of Glendale, Az, Jerry Barr of Sioux Falls, SD, Doug (Dawn) Barr of Sioux Falls SD, Ken Barr of Newark Ca, Michelle (Brian) Maas of Beresford, SD, Jackie (Jason) Johnsen of Sioux Falls, SD, Amy (Chris) Sanftleben of Sioux Falls, SD, and Randy (Luciana) Christensen of Osage, Wy.

As the families grew before Fritz knew it, she had close to 40 great & great-great

grandchildren with one on the way. Fritz was and always will be the matriarch of the Christensen family. Her legacy carries on strong with each and every one of them.

She is preceded in Death by her parents John & Marie Orton, one sister Helen Falk, her daughter Bev Johansen, son in law Duane Johansen, daughter in law Jen Christensen and Melvin Christensen.

The funeral service for Fritz will be Friday April 29, 2016 at 3pm at Zion United Methodist Church of Beresford, SD.

The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers. Some organizations/charities dear to Fritz's heart were MOCA (Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance), National Breast Cancer Foundation, National Kidney Foundation serving the Dakotas. Some local organizations include The Beresford Food Pantry and The Beresford School District, where many of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren continue to make it grow.