Margaret Dawn "Maggie" Christensen

Margaret "Maggie" Dawn Christensen, 65, of Desert Hot Springs, California, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2025, after a short illness, with her family by her side.
Maggie was born on May 7, 1959, in Apple Valley, California, to the late Theodore and Mary Ratcliff. Her family moved to Palm Springs, California, when she was just a few years old, following her father's work as a hotel manager. Other than a brief move to Las Vegas as a preteen, she remained in the Coachella Valley throughout her life. She began working in nutrition services with the Palm Springs Unified School District in 2005. The majority of that time was spent as the kitchen manager at Cathedral City Elementary School. She was deeply devoted to her work and took great pride in feeding and caring for generations of students. Her dedication, warmth, and work ethic were felt not just by her coworkers but by the many children who came through her lunchroom over the years.
Maggie was a huge animal lover, particularly of dogs, and she had many cherished pets throughout her life, including her adored late Leonberger mix, "Boo Boo" Bear.
She is survived by her husband, Brian; her daughter, Lindsey (Dave); grandchildren, Alicia and Hayden; her sister, Mary; brothers, Ted (Jeanne) and Jeff (Teresa); and several beloved nieces.
A celebration of life will be held in the reception room at Wiefels Mortuary in Palm Springs on Saturday, June 7, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Animal Samaritans in Thousand Palms, California.
Cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, coworker, and friend-Maggie will be deeply missed.