Robert Lewis Christensen

Robert Lewis Christensen, 82, died on May 14, 2008, at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.

Bob "Chris" Christensen was born on October 28, 1925, in Fremont, Neb., and was raised in Leshara, Neb., the son of Fred and Vera Christensen.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a signalman on a destroyer in the Pacific. After attending Doane College and law school at Ste University of Iowa, he moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where he met and married Claire Landry. They were married 52 years at the time of her death on August 14, 2004. After a brief stint at an insurance company, he began practicing law with Sheehan and Duhigg, later opening his solo practice until 1976. He won election as Bernalillo County probate judge in 1966 and 1968, sat out a required term, and was elected for a third term in 1972. Upon retiring from the practice of law, he and Claire moved to San Diego, Calif., in 1976. They retired to Carson City in 1991, and were volunteers with Make-a-Wish of Northern Nevada.

He is survived by his sons, Rusty of Medway, Mass., and John of Auburn, Wash.; daughters, Karen Christensen Huff of Albuquerque, N.M., Joann Stoehr of Portland, Ore., and Jean Christensen of Los Angeles, Calif.; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Claire Christensen, and their daughter, Lois Martinez, who died in 1977.

Memorial services will be held at a later date in Albuquerque. FitzHenry's Funeral Home of Carson City is caring for arrangements.