OBITUARY: Marilea (Eggleston) Christensen, 1930-2005, St. Ansgar, Mitchell, IA Original version posted on www.mcpress.com July 13, 2005 Marilea Christensen Funeral services for Marilea Christensen of Royal, Iowa, were held Tuesday, June 21, 2005 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal. The Reverend Gary Panko officiated. Interment was in Willow Creek Cemetery, Royal. Marilea died June 17, 2005 as the result of a motor vehicle accident. Marilea Christensen, the daughter of Wesley and LaVonne Eggleston, was born on Oct. 16, 1930, in St. Ansgar, Iowa. Her childhood years were spent in that community. She was involved in many school activities, but her claim to fame was being part of a national award winning trumpet trio. Her musical talents followed her to Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she toured with the college band and earned her teaching degree. Marilea accepted her first teaching position as a third grade teacher in the Royal Community School District. Soon after arriving, she was introduced to Russ Christensen and they were married on July 8, 1951. This began a strong and lifelong farming partnership. To this union three children were born: Jane, Sue and Jim. Mary was very active in her church and her community. Her greatest gifts were her gentle leadership, her organizational skills and her genuine interest in the lives of those around her. Mary was preceded in death by her parents and a stepmother, Ruth Bauer. Her survivors are her husband, Russ Christensen of Royal; two daughters Jane Kruse and her husband David of Spencer, and Sue Brugman and her husband David of Royal; one son Jim and his wife Julie of Royal, ten grandchildren: Megan Kruse-Ingledue, Matt Kruse and Molly Kruse; Betsy, B.J. and Laura Brugman; Jennifer, Anne, Lee and Wesley Christensen; one great-granddaughter Alynn Ingledue and one sister Beverly Koster of Blair, Nebraska. Arrangements were by Warner Funeral Home, Spencer, Iowa. Copyright 2005, K. L. Kittleson