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Clasen-Jordan Mortuary
 Dean Eric Christianson
(June 10, 1970 - May 2, 2014)
Dean Eric Christianson, 43 of rural Austin, went to be with his lord after drowning in the Payette River near Cascade, ID on May 2, 2014.
Dean was born June 10, 1970 in Rochester, MN to Jerome and Betty (Wilkens) Christianson. He grew up on his parent’s farm northwest of Austin. He attended Austin Public Schools, graduating from Austin High School in 1989, where he was in 4-H and FFA. He attended Riverland Community College graduating with an associate of arts degree.
Dean bought a house and the adjacent lot in Corning and remodeled the house and planted trees on the lot. As a life long member of Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, He was drawn to the Ministry, serving as a trustee and a deacon. Dean worked at several different jobs in his life, including Corning Seed, Gandy’s of Owatonna, Cargill of Albert Lea, and he drove semi for Swift for a short time. He was a friendly person, was well liked and was always willing to engage in conversation. Mostly Dean was a helper and a caregiver.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents Elmer and Mary Wilkens and Kenneth and Avis Christianson and his aunt Rosanne Wennes.
Dean is survived by his parents: Jerome and Betty Christianson, rural Austin, MN; twin brother: Dale Christianson, rural Austin, MN; brother: John (Lilly) Christianson, Owatonna, MN; nephew: Bernie; Aunts and Uncles: Gary (Terry) Christianson, Seattle, WA; Harold Andrew “Andy” Wilkens, CO; Patty Wilkens, Cincinnati, OH; Barbara (Ron) Manbeck, Seattle, WA; Marilyn Styve, Afton, MN; Janet (Gordon) Beavers, Golden Valley, MN.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, August 2nd, 2014 at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church with the Reverend Lindsay Stolen officiating. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM and at the church on Saturday for one hour before the service. Private interment was held Saturday, July 19 at Red Oak Grove Cemetery.
Dean’s last act of kindness was doing what he loved most; helping a friend. God Bless his memory.
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BOISE COUNTY, Idaho — The body of a 43-year-old Austin man who went missing near the Payette River May 2 was recovered earlier this month, according to the Boise County Coroner’s Office.
The identity of Dean Eric Christianson was confirmed through dental records, according to Boise County Chief Deputy Coroner Michael Johnson. His next of kin has been notified.
Investigators found no indications that Christianson died from anything other than drowning, Johnson said. His body was found in the river about 3 miles downstream from where he was last seen along the Payette River on Banks-Lowman Highway.
Christianson had flown out to Cascade, Idaho, on April 23 to help Jason Koehler drive home to Austin, according to Jason’s mother, June Koehler.
Christianson and Koehler had finished a hike on Friday when Christianson went down to the river to fill up a water bottle.
When Jason checked on Christianson, he couldn’t see him anywhere, which led Jason to suspect Christianson had fallen in the river.
After a quick search, Jason flagged down authorities who immediately organized a search party, according to June.
June said Christianson was a lifelong area resident who graduated from Austin High School and lived northwest of town in rural Austin.
“He had lots of strong connections,” she previously told the Herald.
Previously, Boise County Chief Deputy Dale Rogers said Christianson had been living in Cascade but was in the process of moving to Missouri.
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