Clara Marie Christensen

Clara Marie Christensen, the daughter of Andrew Peter and Dagmar Larson Nelson was born August 29, 1912, in Spencer, Iowa. She spent her childhood in Spencer graduating from Spencer High School. Clara attended the University of Commerce in Des Moines graduating in 1932. On February 18, 1933, she married Jack Phillips in Spencer. They operated the Graettinger Hotel until 1939 when they moved to Deadwood, South Dakota to own and operate the Gold Bar & Casino. After the War, they returned to Superior, Iowa and farmed. They later moved to Spencer to own and operate the Spencer Block & Tile Works. In 1962 they built the Lamplighter Motel in south Spencer. On December 22, 1972, Clara married Fred Christensen in Boise, Idaho. Following their marriage they lived in Spencer. Clara worked at the Spencer Veneer Plant and the Spencer Golf & Country Club, retiring in 1990. Clara was a 50 year member of The Order of The Eastern Star, Women of the Moose, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Bethany Lutheran Church and the Spencer Golf & Country Club. Clara passed away on December 24, 2006 at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer at the age of 94. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fred Christensen on June 23, 1993; her daughter, Ginger Petersen; her granddaughter, Nikki Hart and her brother, Harry Nelson. She is survived by her three children: Jackie Hart and her husband, Murray of Spencer, Iowa, Greg Phillips and his wife, Cindy of Elk River, Minnesota and Gary Phillips of Spencer, Iowa; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

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