Ronald "Ron" Lee Christensen passed away at the VA Home in Minneapolis on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Ron was born in Springfield, MN on December 3, 1947 to Howard and LuCille Christensen; in Lamberton, MN.  Ron went to school in Wabasso where he was well known for his athletic talents in basketball and other sports.  Ron was named "Senior Athlete of the Year" in 1965.

Ron graduated from Mankato State University in 1969.  He was then drafted into the U.S. Army on June 11, 1970 where he served until December 1971. Ron ended his Army career at Fort Benjamin Harris located in Indianapolis, IN where he worked in Army Intelligence.

Shortly after his release from the Army, Ron met his wife, Sandie Schoonover.  They married in 1972, and were blessed with a beautiful daughter in 1973.  They resided in West St. Paul, where Ron worked at the Signal Hills mall as the manager at Woolworth's.  Ron later moved onto manage Mr. John's clothing store and then VanArsdel's department store (men's section).

Later, Ron was hired to open/manage the Perman's department store - located in the newly developed Hasting's mall.  Ron and his family moved there in 1976 where he worked for Perman's family until November 1992.  Ron purchased the men's clothing from Perman's in Northfield and named it "The Men's Store."

In 1997, Ron and his family moved north where Ron continued his career in sales working for Dayton's later Marshall Fields, JC Penney's and finally the City of Lakeville.

Ron was an avid sportsman.  He loved to hunt from Minnesota to Nebraska and Wyoming for pheasants, deer, elk and moose hunting with family and friends.  Ron was also a great golfer and would play every Tuesday with a group of buddies on many golf courses south of the river.

In 2004, Ron was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.  However, Parkinson's did not slow him down.  Ron was a great carpenter, and hand built a cedar strip canoe in the basement of our home.  When the canoe was finished, Ron had to take a window out of our lower level to get the canoe out of the house.  Ron loved to take that canoe to Lac Lavon Lake to fish.

Ron is survived by his wife, Sandie; daughter Kari (Jake) Jacobs and granddaughter Ellorie; 3 brothers, Keith (Donette) of Sartell, Jim of Cottage Grove, Brian (Deb) of Chanhassen and a sister, Nancy Tillman of Alexandria.  He was proceeded in death by his parents, Howard and LuCille Christensen.

Memorial Service: Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 11:00 am at St. John's Lutheran Church, 20165 Heath Ave., Lakeville, MN 55044
Visitation at 10:00 am, prior to service.
Burial: St. John's Columbarium at 12:00 pm

In lieu of flowers or money, please make a donation to the Parkinson's Foundation.