Donald Allan Christopherson

Donald Allan Christopherson, age 88, lived a life of public service, serving the people of the US & our military veterans for 38 years. Born in Minot, ND, the son of two teachers from farms nearby who brought public education to the Dakotas beginning in the 1930s. Don is the oldest of eight children and lived in at least five small towns before he was in 7th grade. He was proud to be the 8th grade SD state marble champion; and as a paperboy, delivered news of the end of WW2. Don graduated from Revillo SD HS 1951; strung telephone line across SD; studied chemistry at Augustana; served in the Army 334th Communication Reconnaissance Co. (ASA Morse interceptor) in Germany; returned to graduate from SDSU in pharmacy in 1959; worked at the original Lewis Drug, downtown Sioux Falls; before joining the Veterans Affairs hospital system for his lifelong career. Served veterans in Iron Mountain MI, Johnson City (Mountain Home) TN, & Sioux Falls SD. As chief of pharmacy services he implemented hospital & out-patient pharmacy procedures that are standard practices today.

Don met & married Beverly Berg, a nurse from Baltic working in Sioux Falls, in 1962. Four beloved children followed: Foy, Kimberly, Tonia & Rodney; the third generation of Christophersons to choose public service careers. After Beverly died in 2001, Don moved to St. Anthony MN and took up grandpa duty for Helena, Olivia, Calvin, Oliver and Bergen. They all loved one another dearly. Other surviving family include Don’s beloved siblings: Virginia Bandt, Jim Christopherson (Carol), Noel Christopherson, and Neil Christopherson, as well as sisters-in-law Margaret Swanson (Jim), Jan Plantz (Dean), Joyce Christopherson (Rick), Jewell Christopherson (Dale), brother-in-law Tom Lee (LeAnn), and many nephews and nieces who treasured time with their Uncle Don. Don shared recently how thankful he was for a life of steady employment and a loving family. He remarked that his only regret in life was not having more time with Bev.

Growing up as the son of a small-town school principal Don was full of interesting stories. He was a lifelong sports fan, sportsman, and loved his days on his high school basketball team. Those stories were told and retold to his kids and grandkids. Don and Bev were active in church life throughout their marriage, serving as teachers, faith formation leaders, congregation council, ushering, finance team and more. Married at West Nidaros Lutheran, rural Crooks SD; members of Bethlehem Lutheran, Iron Mountain, MI; Our Saviour’s Lutheran, Johnson City, TN; St. Mark’s Lutheran, Sioux Falls; Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran, Minneapolis.

Memorials preferred to:

NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness

4301 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300

Arlington, VA 22203

Or the church or charity of choice.

MN Visitation 5-8 pm Friday, Dec 17

Gearty-Delmore Plymouth chapel

15800 37th Ave North

Plymouth, MN 55446

Funeral service 11 am Saturday, Dec 18

Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church

1509 NE 27th Ave,  Minneapolis, MN 55418

coffee & sweetbreads to follow;

COVID protocol: worshipers are asked to wear masks

SD Visitation 5-8 pm Monday, Dec 20

Minnehaha Funeral Home,

180 St. Olaf Ave.

Baltic SD 57003

Burial 10 am Tuesday, Dec 21

West Nidaros Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Crooks, SD