Lawrence Kenneth Christianson, known affectionately as Olie, slept peacefully into the presence of His Savior during the early morning hours of Thursday, November 20.

Lawrence was the last of six children, born in the old farmhouse a mile from Parkside. He attended the Parkside school (when he wasn’t involved in farmwork) until the end of grade eight. He then quit school to help his blind father with the farm. Besides work on the farm, he also got a job at Burns meatpacking plant in Prince Albert, where this farmboy was asked not to work so hard – it was making the others look bad.

In 1958 he met a nursing student named Joanna Pugh, and since she wasn’t allowed to marry during training, they dated for two years and married in 1960. They moved to the old farmhouse with no plumbing – quite a shock for a city girl. They juggled two full time jobs, had 3 kids in 5 years, and ran a farm. Nine years later, a surprise arrived – Deanna – who filled the empty places as their nest was emptying out. She died with a brain tumour 11 years later, leaving their home painfully empty. This prompted a move to the Northwest Territories where Joanna worked as a nurse and Lawrence worked on maintenance while he obtained his GED and boiler papers. During their time there, their nest was full of many young people who regarded them as second parents. They maintained many of those relationships over the years. They were surrounded by opportunities to do what they loved: camping and fishing!

After eleven years up North, they retired back to their home in Parkside, which they used as a home base while they pursued their other love and traveled the world: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Alaska, Caribbean, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and California.

Last year, Lawrence became a widower and braved a lonely 12 months on his own. He longed to join his wife and daughter in the presence of Jesus, yet learned to navigate on his own. He enjoyed the company of his coffee-row buddies at the Shellbrook, Parkside, and Leask churches. His highlight was Friday evenings when his friends joined him to watch the Gaithers on TV together.

At 88, Lawrence was diagnosed with stage four cancer. He had committed to following his Savior, Jesus, as a young child, and he spent his life loving and serving him and inspiring others to do the same. He had a peace and an excitement about taking the next step and graduating to heaven and into the presence of his beloved Jesus. This graduation happened three months later while peacefully asleep at the home of his daughter, Jackie.

He is the last of his generation, pre-deceased by his parents Peter and Selma Christianson; his siblings Evelyn (Martin) Rask, Clarence (Esther) Christianson, Olive (Peter) Nolan, Doris (Henry) Schapansky, and Mae Christianson; as well as his wife Joanna, and daughter, Deanna.

He is survived by his three children: Linda (Brian) Harrison, Jackie (Dale) Bragg, and Peter (Shelly) Christianson; as well as 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life—or in Lawrence’s words, “Graduation”—will be held on Saturday, November 29th, at Shellbrook Pentecostal Assembly at 1:00 pm followed by a lunch at the church. Interment will be at the Parkside cemetery following the lunch.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Parkside Pentecostal Church or ERDO (Emergency Relief and Development Overseas https://erdo.ca/ ).

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Tammy Smart, Funeral Director, Shellbrook, SK 306-747-2828.

• Date : 2025-11-20
• Location : Parkside, SK