Blaine Youd Christensen

Blaine Youd Christensen 11/16/1950 ~ 6/23/2008 Blaine Youd Christensen, loving son, husband, father, and grandfather, passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack on June 23, 2008, at the age of 57.Born November 16, 1950, in Payson, Utah, to Wilda Youd and Jerry Blaine Christensen, he grew up happily roaming the foothills of Provo with his friends. Following his graduation from Orem High, Blaine served an LDS mission to the Great Lakes. He graduated from BYU with a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and later completed his MBA at the University of Utah. He married Ann Marie Lewis on August 25, 1972, in the Salt Lake Temple. He was a loving father to the seven wonderful boys who have blessed their lives: Matthew (Susan), Nathan (Tanya), Jared (Maria), Adam, Seth, Joshua (serving in the Washington Spokane Mission), and Benjamin. Blaine was the consummate family man. His life revolved around his wife and children. He worked and played alongside his sons, teaching them by example how to "conquer the mountain." He enjoyed jogging, playing basketball and tennis, coaching, gardening, reading, camping, hiking, and relaxing in front of the TV with a good movie or a ball game. He was a loyal, true-blue Cougar fan, and he looked forward each year to attending BYU football and basketball games with his wife. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served faithfully in many callings throughout the years. He enjoyed working with people, and his favorite callings were those that involved teaching, be it in a formal setting or in the mountains with a group of scouts. With quiet determination, he did his best to follow the example of the Savior and taught his family to do the same. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren (Anna, Alyssa, Seth, and Jediah), mother, brothers, Ralph (Amy), Jeffrey (Susan), and Thomas (Christine), and sister, Diana (Kevin) Pritchett. Preceded in death by his father. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 28, 2008, at 11 a.m. at the LDS River Stake Center, 1570 W. 11400 S., South Jordan, Utah. Friends are invited to visit with the family on Friday, June 27, 2008, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy.(10600 S) or at the Stake Center one hour prior to services. Burial will be in the Provo City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation, P.O. Box 675, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 or to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Department, 50 E. North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150. Online condolences at www.jenkins-soffe.com