Paul H. Christenson

Paul Henry Christenson, (a.k.a., Bestefar - Norsk for Grandfather), was born on September 9th, 1933, in Wabasha, MN, son of Elmer and Ruth (Henryson) Christenson. Paul passed away surrounded by family the morning of April 29th, 2026, in Red Wing, MN, at the age of 92.

Paul grew up in the Como Park neighborhood of St. Paul, MN. At an early age he started playing piano, practicing every day and studying with several teachers. On Saturdays he played for the residents of a retirement home and at age 16 he was the organist for Como Park Lutheran Church. When he wasn’t playing music, he was swimming, diving, ice skating and cheerleading at Murray High School.

He attended St. Olaf College from 1951-1955. It was here where he joined the St. Olaf Choir and met the love of his life, Lois Wold, whom he married in Blooming Prairie after they graduated. He then earned a degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul and took his first parish in Menomonie, WI, where their first child Steven was born. They took their next call in Madison, WI where they added Ruth and Joel to the family. In 1964, Paul and Loey had the bold idea of forming a family singing group and began performing in the area. They spent 8 years at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Delafield, WI and doubled their family with the additions of Nathan, Rachel and Thomas.

In 1972, Paul accepted the position as head pastor at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, Iowa where they lived until 1987. As the Christenson Family Singers, they sang their way through Europe in 1974, 1977 and 1981. They purchased The Whippy Dip in 1978, a popular ice cream shop, and staffed it with their children to ensure high quality cone production. The family agreed to sing at the Nordic Fest the first year they arrived in Decorah and continued for the following 15 years. Paul and Loey took on active roles, becoming directors of the Nordic Dancers, and coordinating many other events during the fest.

In 1986, Paul accepted his penultimate call in Evanston, IL at Trinity Lutheran. With each parish call, Paul worked on behalf of social justice and the social Gospel, always including the local priest or rabbi to join him in this pursuit. Paul started the congregation’s outreach for the community of Cabrini-Green, The Ulster Project and kept the congregation deeply involved with missions of social concerns.

Paul and Loey finished their ministry in Sandnessjøen Norway. That year, Paul preached in Norwegian to 7 small congregations throughout the area near the Arctic Circle.

In 1996, Paul and Loey moored their ship and retired in Red Wing, MN. Paul’s definition of retirement is not in the dictionary. He and Loey started the Red Wing Blackbird B&B and hosted guests for 7 years while hopping back on the bench as organist in Faribault, then at United Lutheran Church, in Red Wing. He became church choir director, handbell player, started TAG (The Aged Gifted) Speaker Series, directed the local Building Bridges Conflict Resolution tours to Norway and Bosnia & Herzegovina, was a member of Rotary and Sons of Norway and rarely missed a rehearsal or performance of the senior church choir.

Paul, with Loey, traveled the world. He met wonderful people and maintained life-long friendships. He shared his musical expertise eagerly with all the communities in which he lived. He was a most earnest man who strove to help people experience joy and fulfillment. He truly valued meeting and connecting with others and was always an affirmative presence with his generous smile and undying optimism. His mission in life was to preach love, peace and compassion; he did this by living it.

Paul is survived by his 6 children, 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; Steven Christenson (Neige), children Hans (Hannah) and Laban (Mixy); Ruth Sorenson, children Astri (Tim) [ great grandson, Finn] Esther, Isaac and Lars (Sophie) [great granddaughter Ulla]; Joel Christenson; Nathan Christenson (Susan), children Bryn, Noah (Caresse) and Solveig; Rachel Christenson (Peter) and Thomas Christenson (Bobbi); his sisters-in-law, Jackie Christenson, Connie Christenson and Sonja Salveson.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer, Ruth, and Alice; his brothers, Phillip, David and Peter, his wife, Lois, and son-in-law, Arne Sorenson.

The memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday June 19, 2026, at United Lutheran Church, 628 West 5th St, Red Wing. The service will be live-streamed and can be viewed below.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18th , at The Anderson Center’s Tower View Barn, 163 Tower View Dr., Red Wing. Private family burial at Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery, Beldenville, WI. Memorial donations may be made to: Paul and Lois Christenson, St. Olaf College Music Scholarship Fund, Vesterheim Norwegian Museum, World Central Kitchen or donor’s choice. Our heartfelt love and thanks to the staff at Deer Crest Senior Living and St. Croix Hospice for their remarkable care for Paul and Loey.   Arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel in Red Wing.