Feb. 21, 1930-March 16, 2024
Donna Mae Robison Christiansen, age 94, died in St George, Utah, on March 16, 2024, due to age. She was born Feb. 21, 1930, in Salt Lake City, Utah, a daughter of Burton Henry Robison and Fern Lois Bates Robison. She had an exciting and happy childhood on her father’s livestock ranch near Ely, Nevada. She married Donald Leonard Christiansen on June 22, 1948, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
Donna attended Stephen’s College in Columbia, Missouri, and it was there that she learned to fly an airplane, a childhood dream come true. She then attended the University of Utah in the College of Nursing and was given on-the-job training by a family friend, Dr. Stobbe. She was a natural in assisting and cheering patients to better health. In 1950, Don graduated from the University of Utah as a pharmacist and they moved to Reno, Nevada, where Donna resided until 2017 (67 years), when she was invited to join her daughters in St George, Utah.
To quote her grandson, “Donna was a widow for 53 years, a pilot, a special education teacher, a loving mother, and most importantly she was a disciple of Jesus Christ.” A strong and faithful member of the LDS Church, Donna served in several capacities in the church organizations: president, teacher, and minister in the Relief Society; president and teacher in the Primary; and a loving and caring teacher of the Young Women. She and her husband served in the Reno Stake covering the western half of Nevada and parts of eastern California for many years.
She found great joy in raising her six children and had a vibrant and warm nature that drew many to enjoy her friendship. Donna was admired and loved by all who knew her and was known for her dignity, strength and refined spiritual character. More than anything, she leaves us a legacy of Love.
Donna was preceded in death by 53 years by her husband Don (1971), leaving her with a very young family. She is survived by sons Jeffery (Jill) Christiansen and Tracy (Cindy) Christiansen; by daughters Colleen (Charles) Adair, Devonna (Stewart) Skouson, Shawna (Grant) Moulton, and Heather Olsen; 19 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
Donna will be interred at Mt. View Cemetery, Reno, Nevada on Thursday, March 28, Walton Funeral Home assisting, as well as Spilsbury Mortuary in St. George, Utah. Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life at the Hampton Inn Reno West that evening from 5:30-7 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to click here to sign Donna’s online guest book.