Stanley Arnold Christianson

CHRISTIANSON — Stanley Arnold, 76; born Feb. 7, 1938, Creston, British Columbia, Canada; died July 16, 2014, Leavenworth, Wash. Surviving: wife, Doris (Weed); sons, Stanley Christianson II, Conway, Wash.; Russell Christianson, Everett, Wash.; daughter, Gail Toebe, Renton, Wash.; stepsons, Scott Praye, Port Orchard, Wash.; Brian Praye and Wes Praye, both of Leavenworth; stepdaughter, Cindy Praye, Bellevue, Wash.; sister, Janie Wilson, Albuquerque, N.M.; 3 grandchildren include, grandsons, Martin Toebe and Brandon Toebe and granddaughter, Alicia Christianson; 8 step-grandchildren include, Kensington Lang, Skyler Praye, Michelle Dinsmore, Heather Praye, Madeline Praye, Emily Praye, Parker Best and Christina Lockerby; and 3 step-great-grandchildren, Chase, Liam and Jewls Dinsmore.

Stanley Arnold Christianson died peacefully on July 16, 2014, at his home in Leavenworth, Wash., from pancreatic cancer at the age of 76. He was surrounded by his family as he passed and, in the days before his death, was visited by numerous friends and extended family.

The son of Arnold Hanson and Ethel Luella (Olson) Christianson, Stan was born on Feb. 7, 1938, in Creston, British Columbia, Canada, and was one of two children. Stan and his sister, Janie, immigrated to the U.S. in 1945, first to Spokane, Wash., and ultimately settled with their uncle and aunt, Ken and Viola Grellette, in Snohomish, Wash. Stan attended Auburn Adventist Academy, graduating in 1956.

On June 2, 1957, Stan married Sara Nell Howard and the couple moved to Florida. They moved to Walla Walla, Wash., in 1960, where Stan attended college and worked for Harris Pine Mill. They then moved to Renton, Wash., but settled in Redmond, Wash., where they raised their three children. Stan retired and moved to Cheney, Wash., in 2001.

Stan married the love of his life, Doris Weed on July 11, 2004, and they resided in Leavenworth, Wash., enjoying 10 happy years together, celebrating their 10th anniversary just prior to his death.

Stan worked 32 years for Safeway as a semi-truck driver, and was the recipient of the Million Mile Safe Driver award. In recent years, he drove truck for Marson & Marson Lumber in Leavenworth, up until 2012.

With a large, extended family, Stan loved spending time with all his “children” and “grandchildren,” and also enjoyed traveling with his wife, Doris, to her home state of Montana and Hot Springs, British Columbia. Stan was always quick with a joke and he enjoyed making people laugh. Throughout his life, Stan was an avid outdoorsman, gardener and he loved woodworking. He enjoyed hiking in the Cascades with Doris, and he was an avid snowmobiler in the Leavenworth area. A lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Stan was an elder in the church and remained active in the Leavenworth Church up until three weeks before his death. He passed peacefully in the knowledge of his faith for “the twinkling of an eye” and the promise of salvation in Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Canadian Army Royal Corp of Engineers LCpl. Arnold Hanson Christianson and Ethel Luella (Olson) Christianson.

The Christianson family would like to thank Central Washington Hospital Hospice for their compassionate care of Stan, and for the support, information, and responsiveness to the family during his passing.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on July 24, 2014, at the Leavenworth Church.