Clifford James Christensen was born August 14, 1926 to Chris and Marie Christensen at home in Winchester, WI.  He attended Grandview Grade School, Neenah High School, Tucson and Amphitheater High Schools in Arizona and graduated as Salutatorian of the Winneconne High School Class of 1944.  Upon graduating, he joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 during WWII. He felt it was his moral duty to help turn the tide of war and turn the world around. He served on the Destroyer U.S.S. Wren in the Pacific until the end of WWII.  After the WWII, he attended Iowa State University.

After college he started farming and pursuing other endeavors. He married Bette Lou Anderson at Grace Lutheran Church in Winchester on July 31, 1948.  He was a man of many hats; he was a Husband, Daddy, Grand Dad, Great Grand Dad, Teacher, Friend, Builder, Farmer, Chemist, Scientist, Musician, Inventor, Jail Ministry Partner, Advanced Torpedoman, Lover & Friend of Jesus. One of his sayings was, 'Remember this day!' after hikes on a moon-lit night, camping in our homemade RV bus and harvesting crops.   In the early years, he was a Sunday School Teacher and Deacon at Grace Lutheran Church Winchester. He was active with Bette at Calvary Bible Church Neenah, and First Baptist Church of Sunizona, AZ.  He thought of others first and he could never sit still because he always had a project to work on.

Cliff died July 1, 2020 at TouchMark Assisted Living in Appleton.  Bette preceded him in death October 13, 2017.  They were together for each other for 69 years. And now, hand in hand, together again.  No more waiting, no more tears, only Joy!  Together, they left a legacy of love and faith for future generations. They are survived by their four children and their spouses; Ann and Charles Malmquist of Appleton, Chris and Mary Christensen of Neenah, John and Jane Christensen of Sierra Vista AZ, and Carole and Carl Olson of Larsen. Their nine grandchildren; Sarah (Richard Row), Deanna and Sonia Malmquist, David and Laura Christensen, Joann (Scott) Kibbey and Kathryn Christensen, Caleb Olson (Emily Showers) & Cali Olson.  Their four great-grandchildren; Madelyn Grace, Bridget Faith and Eleanor Hope Kibbey, Soren Richard Malmquist-Row; Nieces Jill Szamocki, Kay Merkel and Nephews Mark Bigalke and Allan Siem.  He was preceded in death by his wife Bette, parents Marie and Chris Christensen, sister and brother-in-law Mildred and Andrew Siem, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Doris and Emil Bigalke.

A private family burial was held.