Wynelle "Mac" Christensen, 88, of Redfield, SD formerly of Athol, died Saturday, December 8, 2012 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield.

Her funeral will be Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational UCC Church in Redfield. Reverend Tim Fugman will officiate.

Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 4-6:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. (www.thelenfuneralhome.com)


Wynelle was born on January 12, 1924 to Alfred Lee and Nannie Mae (Williams) McKibben in Pavo, GA. As a child, she lived in her hometown of Pavo, GA, where the family raised cotton, tobacco and peanuts.

Wynelle served America during her early adult years, building airplanes for the government at the Jacksonville Florida Naval Base. Her responsibilities were putting the belly and wings on airplanes. Women at that time were known as "Rosie the Riveters" because of the responsibilities given to them by the government. It was there she met her husband Garfield Christensen. She married Garfield July 15, 1946 in Aberdeen. They began farming near Northville and in 1947 moved to their farm near Athol, where they farmed until his death.

Wynelle was a member of the Athol and Redfield Congregational Church. Wynelle enjoyed gardening and baking. She often shared her recipes and gardening items with friends and neighbors.

Survivors include her five children: Beverly (George) Van Houten of Bloomington, MN; Betty (Lynn) Julian of Phoenix, AZ; Patsy Herrmann of Black Hawk, SD; Douglas (Sue) Christensen of Ashton and Russell (Debbie) Christensen of Athol; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters: Mert Futch of Jacksonville, FL and Sallie Chadwick of Moultrie, GA; and her brother Watson McKibben of Fayeville, NC.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Garfield in 2000, her sisters: Edna Francis, Margaret Ricca and her brothers: Alton, Orvan and Austin McKibben.