1936-2019
Clyde S Christensen passed away Wednesday, June 19, 2019, just shy of his 83rd birthday, from complications of pulmonary fibrosis and long-standing inherited thromboembolic disease. As he departed the life he had lived so well, he was surrounded by his wife, his eight children and daughters-in-law, and many of his 29 grandchildren.
Clyde was born June 24, 1936 in Kenilworth, Utah to Victor Monta and Clara Sumsion Christensen. He lived a happy boyhood, exploring the hillsides and washes of Carbon County with his four brothers and spending summers with his family at beautiful Fish Lake. After graduating from Carbon High School he attended Carbon College before enlisting in the Army under the G.I. Bill. He was stationed at Yuma Proving Grounds in 1955. Not long after arriving in Yuma he attended a church event where he met Nancy Westover. Their courtship spanned their time together in Yuma and his three-year mission to Norway for the LDS church. He asked Nancy to marry him shortly after his return, and they were married on June 16, 1961, in the Mesa Arizona temple. Clyde and Nancy raised six sons and two daughters in Mesa and Tempe. Their devotion to one another provided a foundation of love and faith for their children.
Clyde earned Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees from Arizona State University. He also completed coursework toward an EdD in Biology.
He taught Biology and Life Science at Tempe High School for 38 years and was easy to recognize as he commuted each day on his trusty bicycle. He loved teaching about the natural world and, more importantly, loved helping his students know that they were valued and valuable. It was not unusual for him to encounter students from previous years whose names he remembered and who in turn remembered him gratefully.
He was also a powerful teacher to his children, instilling in them a love for people as well as for all things that grow, creep, crawl, swim, and fly. He never stopped feeling wonder for the world around him.
He served faithfully in many callings in the LDS Church, including with the Young Men, as Sunday School President, as High Priest group leader, Ward Clerk, and for seven years as Bishop of Tempe 8th Ward. Clyde had the great pleasure of returning to his former mission when he and Nancy were called as missionaries to Norway from 2004 to 2006.
Clyde was a quiet, humble servant, husband, father, brother, and friend who lived by example. We can’t imagine the world without him in it.
He is survived by Nancy, his sweetheart of 58 years; brothers Ted (Nola Myrl) and Ross (Peggy); children Erik (Sue), Kirsten, Victor, Erin, Rex (Shaleigh), Don (Mindy), Brett (Natasha), and Russell (Debbie); grandchildren Mac (Janeen), Kent, Josh, Ben, Grayson, Hal, Braddock, Jessie, Daniel, Meghan (Jon), Alex (Joey), Devon, Jack, Emileigh, Ashleigh (Harrison), McKay (Dianna), Carileigh, Elleigh, Lilleigh, Mia, Roxey, Carmen, Harper, Clyde, William, Grace, Joseph, and Louise; and great-grandchildren Leroy, Norene, and Skye.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his older brothers Jack and Ray.
A viewing will be held Friday, June 28, 6:00-8:00 pm at the Del Rio Chapel, 1871 E. Del Rio Drive, Tempe, 85282. The funeral will held Saturday, June 29 at 12:00 noon. The funeral will be preceded by a viewing at 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the LDS Humanitarian or Missionary Funds, to the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, or to a zoo or wildlife refuge or other charity of your choice.