Christenca Ann "Tess" Carlson Christensen

Our angel mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and dear friend peacefully passed into heaven July 13, 2023 at the age of 92 with family by her side. Christenca Ann (Tess) Carlson Christensen was born March 24, 1931 to Victor August and Eva Leona Hansen Carlson in Richmond, Utah. She was the eighth of 12 children who learned the value of faith, family, love, sacrifice, service and hard work at an early age. Named after her maternal grandmother, her father said “I don’t care what you name her, I’m going to call her Tess!”. The nickname stuck and became the one she was known by throughout her life.

She grew up in Richmond and graduated from North Cache High School and later Utah State University. As a child she spent her summers cooking meals for the logging crew at her father’s sawmill in Idaho’s Emigration Canyon. It was there that she developed a love and skill for picking wild huckleberries and making her famous pies. Her beauty, diligence and logging camp experience caught the attention of another Richmond sawmill operator and in 1950 she married Wade Christensen. Together, they made Richmond their home. Their marriage was later solemized in the Logan Temple where they were sealed to their three children: Zan, Wendy, and Victor.

Tess worked many years at USU as a budget officer in the Budget Office. She made many cherished, lifelong friendships across campus and was well-respected for her kindness, wisdom, dependability and dedicated work ethic. She was also a skilled seamstress who en­joyed sewing her own outfits for work and church, blouses, kitchen aprons and temple dresses.

She never did anything half-hearted. A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tess held many callings throughout her life in the Relief Society, Young Women, Sunday School, Primary and as an ordinance worker in the Logan Temple.

Family was EVERYTHING to her, they were the center of her heart and the joy of her life. “Grandma Days” were her favorite! Her devotion was unequivocal and her willingness to love, serve and sacrifice endeared her to family and friends alike.

Tess was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wade, her two sons, along with seven brothers and sisters: Jeanne, Doyle, Don, LaMarr, Carol, Ken and Thad. She is survived by her daughter Wendy (Rich­mond), daughter-in-law Dena (Cove), six grandchildren: Bert, Bruce, Randy, Marci, Cami, and Maegan; 24 great-grandchildren, and her remaining siblings: Reta, Carl, Druce and Joe.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at noon at the Richmond Stake Center, 135 West Main Street, Richmond, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday, July 21, 2023 from 6 - 8 p.m. and from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the stake center prior to services. Burial will be at the Richmond City Cemetery. Memories and con­dolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com.

The family wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to all the staff, residents and their families at Autumn Care Assisted Living in Hyde Park for their sweet care, friendship and support of Tess and Wendy.

Services will be available to stream live on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 12:00 noon MDT by clicking the following link:

https://youtube.com/live/qwoD-z61mJQ?feature=share