Joanne’s Obituary Joanne Christiansen, 85, Bowbells, ND passed away Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Trinity Hospital in Minot. Joanne Adele Knoke was born June 20, 1933, the third daughter of Clifford and Beth (Peterson) Knoke at the hospital in Bottineau. She was raised on their farm, north of Willow City, ND.
As a child, Joanne loved riding horseback with her friends and playing in the barn with her horses. Joanne attended school in Willow City and graduated with the Class of 1951. Joanne earned her Standard Teaching Degree from Minot State Teacher’s College.
Joanne began her teaching career in 1953 where she taught fourth grade for 2 years in Bowbells, ND and a year in Tioga. She loved being a teacher, but she loved her future husband even more. She married Leo Christiansen on June 8, 1956, and they were married for 61 years.
They began their married farm life in Denmark Township, Ward County and then built a new farmstead in Bowbells Township, Burke County where they farmed until 2009 raising their three children during those years. Joanne lived on the farm for the remainder of her life, never giving up her garden or her yard. Joanne did return to teaching when she taught kindergarten for a few years in Bowbells Public School, and she also substitute taught in Bowbells and Kenmare during the late 1970s through the 1990s.
One of Joanne’s greatest joys was when her grandson, John, began his teaching career in the very same classroom she taught when she began teaching. Joanne and Leo enjoyed socializing with their many friends. They were members of the Circle and Swing Square Dance Club in Kenmare and the Beaus ‘n Belles Square Dance Club in Bowbells.
They spent many Saturday nights at couple’s dances in the area. Joanne enjoyed entertaining in her home, and many winter nights were spent hosting whist card parties, inviting friends to visit, and hosting Christmas parties for her Homemaker’s Club. Joanne was a founding member of the Town and Country Homemaker’s Club which just celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Joanne always said how thankful she was that she was a member of this club as it offered such great fun, learning, and friendships. She especially enjoyed helping to create ideas for the many floats they built for parades in Bowbells. Joanne was a former member of Nazareth Lutheran Church in Kenmare and was currently a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Bowbells where she was an active member of the women’s circles and groups.
She enjoyed the years when she was able to sing with small groups as special music for church services. Joanne was always active and was referred to by family and friends as “The Energizer Bunny”. She could spend the whole day mowing grass with a push mower but still would do her two mile walk at the end of the day to make sure she got her “exercise”.
Joanne enjoyed volunteering, and one of her favorite activities the past two years, while Leo was in the nursing home, was reading Little House on the Prairie books to the residents. Joanne’s grand children have the best memories of her wonderful food and all the hours of card games, board games, and outdoor games she would play with them. She once said, “Grandkids just don’t realize how special they are to us old folks”.
Joanne’s family includes Vicki (Bruce) Dougherty, Powell, WY, Randy (Sue) Christiansen, rural Bowbells, and Darcy Christiansen, rural Bowbells; grandchildren, Beth (Josh) Ristow, Patrick Dougherty (fiancé Mackenzie Hamre), Kiley (Kevin) Cintron, Jayme (Joe) Ogden, John Christiansen, Shane (EmmaLee) Christiansen, great-granddaughter, Hannah Ristow; sister Diane Boetel Waldron, Apache Junction, AZ; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Leo; her parents Clifford and Beth Knoke; her sisters Marion Wetzel and Nona Lillard; and her niece, Kathy Wetzel. Funeral: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Bowbells, ND.
Interment: A family burial service will be held in the spring. Memorials: may be given to Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, rural Bowbells, in care of Nazareth Lutheran Church, or to the activities fund at Kenmare Hospital.
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