Michael “Mike” Dean Christensen

November 14, 1956 ~ January 2, 2024

Michael “Mike” Dean Christensen, 67, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Sanford USD Medical Center with family and friends by his side.

A Celebration of life will be Monday, February 12, 2024, 5-7pm, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon.  Sympathy cards or condolences for the family of Michael can be mailed to Heartland Funeral Home, PO Box 451, Brandon, SD 57005.  

Michael Dean Christensen was born on November 14, 1956, in SD to Donald and Ethel (Moeller) Christensen. He grew up in Sioux Falls with his parents, two brothers, and sister. He attended Hayward Elementary, Axtell Park Junior High, and Washington High School.

Growing up Mike enjoyed fishing, hunting, motorcycle riding, running with friends, and any mischief he could find.  Mike married Lori Campbell and was blessed with two children, Michael and Bobbi. Mike and Lori had built their home in Sioux Falls and were divorced later in life.  Mike was united in marriage to Diane Parker on July 12, 1985, and was blessed again with two additional children Ashley and Whitney and they made their home and raised their family in Sioux Falls, SD. Mike worked with the City of Sioux Falls from 1985 until his early retirement in 2013 due to health reasons. After retirement, Mike battled issues with his neck and back, Addison’s disease, and throat cancer.  After treatment for his throat cancer, Mike was declared cancer-free but continued to battle illnesses, which took his life too soon.

Mike enjoyed spending time with his wife Diane, kids, and grandkids.  He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play their sports. He spent his spare time riding his motorcycle on poker runs with his wife, riding his 4-wheeler around town and on trail rides with his wife, bowling, and working on wood-building projects in his garage for family and friends.  Mike enjoyed shooting pool for the league and with his son Michael when his son came to visit. While employed with the City Mike built shadow boxes for the City Retirees.  He also enjoyed chatting (bantering) with people all over the County on his CB Radio. He enjoyed his CB Radio so much; he had a CB Radio system set up in his home Radio Room and truck to ensure he had every opportunity to chat. Mike shared his CB Radio hobby with his good friend JR who specializes in CB Radio systems. Mike and JR’s shared hobby encouraged Mike to learn additional things about the CB Radio world.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Diane; children, Michael (Grace) Huron, SD, Bobbi (Jason) Remsen, IA, Ashley, Sioux Falls, SD, and Whitney, Sioux Falls, SD; eight grandchildren, Brandon, Timothy, MacKenzie, Justin, Dominic, Gage, Jaxton, and Skye; his mom, Ethel, Sioux Falls, SD; sister Lori Henle (Thomas) Sioux Falls, SD; brother, Kerry (Lori) Sioux Falls, SD; as well as many other relatives and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his dad, Donald; brother, Donald Jr “Donny”; sister, Angela; father-in-law, Herb and mother-in-law, Jean; and his grandparents.

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