Gordon Christenson

Clarence Gordon Christenson was known to most of us as Gord. He was the second son of Ethel and Clarence Christenson, born January 18, 1945, here in Creston, B.C. Gord left us on October 15, 2019 while in residence at Swan Valley Lodge.

Gord graduated from Prince Charles Secondary School in 1963, after which he attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver to acquire his Bachelor of Science.

He worked in the lab at Swan Valley Foods on The Flats, which led to him later achieving his Masters of Food Science, also at UBC.

While in Vancouver, Gordon and then wife Sharon welcomed Cathy and Jeff to their family, which included Gord’s stepchildren Terry and Traci.

After their return to Creston in 1977, Gord worked on the Christenson Brothers Farm, as well as in the lab at the Columbia Brewing Company, before joining Customs & Excise Canada in 1989, where he worked as a border guard until retirement in 2010.

Gord was an avid traveller, having toured the world in his 20s and making several international trips throughout his life, including several with his then partner Judy. You might remember talking about a place, or seeing a destination on TV, and Gord announcing “I’ve been there!”

Gord enjoyed hunting small and large game, walking and hiking, curling and reading. He took great pleasure in taking photographs on his travels and collecting rocks from his various trips. In later years Gord was fond of polishing rocks, including many of those travel keepsakes. 

Gordon was predeceased by his parents Ethel, in 1973, and Clarence, in 1995, and his elder brother Grant in 2012.

He leaves to mourn his dear children Cathy Christenson (Dale; Ottawa) and Jeff Christenson (Jaime; Nanaimo), and stepchildren Terry Chernoff (Jody; Riley, Kate; Edmonton) and Traci Deman (Kelowna). He will be missed by a great many close and extended family over four generations, and friends both near and far, including brother John, sister Sheila, sister-in-law Bettylou, niece Leah (Troy; great-nephew Ryan, great-niece Taylor), nephew Brad (Tanya; great-nieces and nephews Rylee, Jenna, Brendan, Kieran, Tesse; great-great-nephew Levi) and many, many … many cousins. 

At Gord’s request, a private interment will be held with immediate family. 

The family wishes to thank all who join us to celebrate and say goodbye to Gord.

In lieu of flowers, Gord would appreciate...

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