Hyrum James “Jim” Christiansen

Hyrum James “Jim” Christiansen was born in Marysville, Idaho to Leonard John “LJ” Christiansen and Bessie Leona Gilbert Christiansen on October 29, 1930. Jim gently passed away in his sleep on January 20, 2026 (age 95) at home in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Lou Etta and son Chad and is survived by his children Valerie (John) Hoybjerg who has 5 children, Todd (Lori) who has 8 children, Joey (Bonny) who has 5 children, Phillip (Emily) who has 3 children, Shelli (Jay) VanOrden who have 5 children, and Jared (Alison) who has one child, many grandchildren, great-grand children, and siblings. He will be interred in Aberdeen, Idaho.

He grew up in Marysville, Idaho, just East of Ashton, where his family lived in very humble circumstances. He attended elementary school in Marysville and graduated from Ashton High School where he lettered in football and boxing as well as enjoyed all the activities he could get involved in including plays and dances. In contrast to his earlier years of struggling in school, he became an ‘A’ student and was elected Senior Class President. After high school, he attended one semester at Ricks College while he worked for Grover Dairy to earn money for his mission.

He served his mission in the North Central States Mission (in North and South Dakota) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Fall of 1950 until October 1952. Although he was always spiritually inclined to recognize and act on the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Jim’s time as a missionary was a time for deepening faith that never left him and developed in him leadership qualities that rewarded him throughout his life. In fact, it was then that he met who he described as the “prettiest Lady Missionary in the world”. Returning on October 7, 1952 he visited her on each of the successive 4 days before he asked her to marry him on the 11th, and a month later, on November 11, 1952, they were sealed in the Idaho Falls temple.

They lived in Idaho Falls while Jim worked as a Manager in Training for Western Auto Supply and was transferred to San Francisco. They missed their life in Idaho Falls so they returned after a year and made their home in Idaho Falls. When an opportunity with his Brother and Brother-in-law came along to become a partner in a Case dealership, he moved his family to Paul, Idaho and then, finally, to Aberdeen to sell tractors and farm equipment. While they struggled to make ends meet, a devastating blow came when fire burned their business to the ground. However, it was rumored that John Deere was looking to expand between Rockford and American Falls, so Jim sought them out, and, only days later, John Deere representatives interviewed him to see if he was a viable candidate for a dealership in Aberdeen. They liked what they saw and gave him the area franchise.

Jim and Lou Etta worked side by side doing all the work for the first couple of years together and managed to raise their family of 7 children. Years later, he expanded his holdings by buying a substantial farm in Aberdeen where he raised wheat, sugar beets, hay, and potatoes. Later still, he expanded his John Deere Dealership holdings to include the Burley and Twin Falls territories. By most accounts he was considered an exceptional success and did what he thought best to involve his daughters and sons in his enterprises. In 1993, after serving a mission in Maine, Jim and Lou Etta moved from Aberdeen to Idaho Falls.

Jim loved the Lord Jesus Christ and was a faithful servant to Him throughout his life. He held several callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including Bishopric Counselor, Stake High Councilor, Stake Presidency Counselor, Temple Sealer and missionary.

Jim acknowledged the Lord Jesus Christ for any and all the good in his life. His testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer is his legacy.

A visitation will be from 7:00 – 9:0 p.m. on Sunday February 1 at Davis-Rose Mortuary in American Falls. The funeral service will be at 12:00 p.m. on Monday February 2 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Aberdeen. The interment will follow starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Aberdeen Cemetery.  Family and friends are invited to visit DavisRoseMortuary.com to order flowers, or to share condolences, memories, and photos.