Gene Christaansen, 65

Gene Christaansen, former Rice Lake resident and Campus Administratorof the Rice Lake campus of the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, died on July 11, 2007, at the age of 65 in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 16, 2007, at Coffelt's Funeral Chapel, 109 N. Division St., Sandpoint.

Pastor Mitchell Jones of Atonement Lutheran Church of Missoula, Mont., will officiate.

Christaansen was an instructor at the Rice Lake campus under James W. Covey, campus administrator for three years before becoming the curriculum coordinator and acting campus administrator.

He was appointed campus administrator by the district board in 1972 and held that position through program expansions and a new $2.6 million dollar campus construction project located adjacent to the Barron County campus.

He was active in the Rice Lake Kiwanis Club, served on the Barron County Agriculture Land Preservation Act, and the Barron County Overall Economic Development Plan. He also served on the City Seniors Center Board.

In 1980, the Christiaan-sen family made the transition from rural Rice Lake to the State Capital of Helena, Mont., to fulfill state, local and federal responsibilities of the state director for vocational education.

In 1989, Christiaansen was selected to serve as the campus president of the Southwest Minnesota Technical College System, Canby, Minn.

He served three years as president in addition to coordinator for the Chicago-based North Central Accreditation Association of Colleges and Universities.

In 1992, a transition from Canby, Minn., was made to Lake Superior College of Duluth, Minn., where responsibilities were fulfilled within academic vice president and academic dean positions.

Retirement was initiated in 2002 to Sandpoint but soon was replaced by part-time seasonal employment at Schweitzer Ski Resort, Hidden Lakes Golf Resort, and Coldwater Creek Incorporated.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Helene Christiaansen of Sandpoint; his children, Amy Hanser and husband Brett of Missoula, Mont., Britt Christiaansen and significant other Mike Rae of Portland, Ore., Eric Christiaansen and wife Marjorie of Billings, Mont., Matthew Christiaansen and wife Tori of Elk River, Minn., and Brian Christiaansen and wife Trista of Sioux Fall, S.D.; four grandsons and one granddaughter. He is also survived by his brothers Duwayne (Cotton) and wife Sue of Waukesha, Wis., Robert (Bob) of Verona, Wis., and an uncle, Milton and Wyline Hermann of Shreveport, La.

Memorial donations may be made to Kiwanis International Scholarship Fund in care of the Sandpoint, Idaho, Kiwanis Club and Bonner Community Hospice.

Family and friends are invited to read Gene's obituary and sign his online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.