Julia LaVell Gibbs Christiansen, 88, former Pocatello resident, died early Sunday morning, August 1, 1993. at home in Rockland.
Julia was born February 9, 1905, in West Portage, Utah, a daughter of William Henry Gibbs Jr., and Elizabeth Sara Zundel. She was raised and educated in McCammon, Idaho, where she attended a one-room school in Marsh Creek through the third grade, and then the McCammon Elementary School. She graduated from McCammon High School in May 1924.
Julia worked two years for the Mountain States Telephone Co., in McCammon, and earned money to attend college. In 1926 she entered the University of Idaho, Southern Branch, now Idaho State University, in Pocatello. She received her two-year teaching certificate in 1928, and later received her B.A. degree from Idaho State University in August 1965.
She taught school from 1928 to l933 in Marsh Center and Arimo, Idaho. In 1942 she began teaching at Emerson Elementary School, Pocatello, and taught there until May 1970 when she retired.
Jullia married Ellis Peter Christiansen in the Salt Lake City, Utah LDS Temple on December 22, 1933. They lived in Downey, Idaho, for 2 ½ years, then moved to Pocatello in 1936, where they resided until Ellis’ death on Oct. 2, 1985. She had lived with her daughter, Mrs. Grant (Janet) Cammack in Rockland since 1985.
She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in many church capacities, including the stake Primary, Relief Society and Sunday school, ward librarian and teacher in the ward Primary, and Mutual. She was a longtime member of Delta Kappa Gamma and Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
Julia loved teaching children. She taught large classrooms of first graders with ease and love. All those who were privileged to have her as a teacher will attest to her ability to touch the lives of children. She also loved to cook, sew, do handiwork and garden. She loved her children and grand-children.
She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Benjamin (Sharol) McLaughlin, Sacramento, Calif., and Mrs. Grant (Janet) Cammack, Rockland, Idaho; two sisters, Phebe Levi, Nampa, Idaho,; and May Lewis, Fallon, Nev,; two brothers, Harding Gibbs, Shelley , Idaho; and Duggan Gibbs, McCammon, Idaho; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, August 2, 1993, at 11 a.m., at the Rockland LDS Ward Chapel, with bishop’s counselor, Martin Munk officiating. Friends may call at Davis Mortuary, 170 Idaho Street, American Falls, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 4 and on Thursday from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the Rockland Ward Chapel. Interment will be in the Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Pocatello at 3 p.m. Donations may be made to the Rockland school.
