Obituary - Cris M. Theissen

Cris M. Theissen, 77, Moscow

Cris (Della) Marie Theissen, 77, died Monday, Dec. 18, 2000, at her Moscow home.

Cris was born June 27, 1923, at Darlington, Wis., to Elmer and Marie Gettis Christensen. She graduated from West Side High School in Madison, Wis. After graduating in 1946, she worked as a telephone operator for the Bell Telephone Co. and hand-painted ceramics for the Ceramic Art Studio.

Cris married Carl Theissen March 19, 1946, at Madison. They moved to Moscow, where she attended the University of Idaho from 1947 to 1949, majoring in art. Chris worked at the Parisian and was a buyer and manager until 1954. She then partnered with Doris Lawton to co-own and operate Jacklyns Baby Shop in 1961. They sold the shop three years later. She worked as a bookkeeper for Central Pre-Mix for seven years and in the same capacity for the UI Bookstore after that.

She was a member of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce, Idaho Watercolor Society, Palouse Water Color Society, the Catholic Church and the election board. She was in the Moscow Bowling Association and held a place in its Hall of Fame. Cris belonged to the Women's Golf Association and took great pride in planting and caring for a number of flower beds at the Moscow Elks Golf Course.

Cris and her husband, Carl, collected arrowheads and precious stones. They loved to fish and hunt wildflowers. She was an avid gardener and loved to sew.

Her husband preceded her in death in July 1985. Her daughter, Lynn Theissen of Seattle, and a granddaughter, Erin Wischmeier of Moscow, survive Cris.

She is also survived by two brothers, F.D. Christensen of Houston, Texas, and Jim Christensen of Marysville, Wash.; three sisters, Lil Wirth and Mert LeClair, both of Madison, and Doris Sachs of Goodrich, Texas.

The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow. The Rev. Mark Schumacher of St. Augustine's Catholic Church will officiate and burial will follow at the Moscow Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of the donor's choice.

The service is under the direction of Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow.

Lewiston Tribune, Thursday, December 21, 2000
Transcribed by Kerry Kasza