Obituary of Steven Harold Christenson

Steven Harold Christenson

1963 - 2020

On June 6^th, 2020 the world lost a truly beautiful soul.  Steven Christenson, of Hanover MN passed away at the age of 56. Steven grew up in Silver Bay and later lived in Duluth, Anoka, and Brooklyn Park. He is survived by sons Mathew and Daniel (Sarah), grandsons Charlie, Noah and Parker; parents Charles and Barbara; sisters Lisa (Chris) Dahl and Amy (Ron) Swanson, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

The list of individuals Steven touched in his life is truly endless. He had a special way of impacting everyone around him from friends, family and staff, to strangers walking in the hall. In high school Steven was a volunteer rescue squad member in Silver Bay where he helped save many lives. In college he cared for seniors at Lakeshore Lutheran in Duluth and was remembered for his compassion for his patients and commitment to them even long after he was no longer employed there. Steven was diagnosed with MS at the age of 27 but continued to work as an architectural draftsman at St. Charles Kitchens by Contardo and Builders Commonwealth in Duluth until Multiple Sclerosis (MS) forced him to retire at the age of 34.

His life drastically changed as his body was ravaged by MS, however he never stopped sharing his light and leaving his mark on the world. He soon became a virtual rider for the Stevie’s Wonders bike team where he raised money along with friends and family who came together to support the MS Society to find a cure. Steven was the type of man who changed lives for the better and had a way of leaving people better than he found them. He could be in excruciating pain and still give you his last drop of kindness to make your day a little better. He endured so much during his almost 30-year battle against MS, but it didn’t stop him from cracking jokes to make someone smile. Even though MS took a terrible toll on Steven over the years, the light from his soul still beamed onto those around him. He taught us many things about patience, kindness, compassion, and love.

This year will mark the 20^th anniversary of the start of the Stevie’s Wonders MS bike teams and the Christenson family is requesting that memorials be made to the National MS Society, under Steven’s MS Bike Team accounts. https://mssociety.donordrive.com/participant/10978