Ila Christensen

LAKE BENTON — Mass of Christian Burial for Ila Mae Christensen, 83, of Lake Benton will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Lake Benton. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Lake Benton. Burial will be at St. Genevieve Catholic Cemetery in Lake Benton. Following the burial, a luncheon will be hosted by the family at the Lake Benton Event Center.

She died Friday, July 15, 2022, at Avera Sunrise Manor in Tyler.

Ila Mae Christensen was born to John and Susan (Brech) Thomas on June 6, 1939, on a farm near Tripp, South Dakota, where she was raised and began her education. In 1951, she moved with her parents to a farm near Mitchell, South Dakota. While living there, she attended Plano Consolidated School. After her high school graduation, she continued her education at General Beadle State College in Madison, South Dakota to become a teacher. In 1959, after she completed the necessary course work, she became employed as the sixth grade teacher at Tyler Public School in Tyler. On June 11, 1962, she was united in marriage to Allan Christensen at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Following their marriage, they lived in Rantoul, Illinois. In 1968, they settled in Lake Benton where Ila was a substitute teacher for both the Lake Benton and Tyler schools from 1969 to 1970. In 1979 she became known as “the Fishing Lady” as she and Allan purchased Lake Benton Tire & Bait Shop. #sushibar. Allan preceded her in death on April 20, 2001. After his death, she continued to live in Lake Benton until her health declined in August of 2021. Ila was transferred to the Pipestone County Hospice Cottage and later to Avera Sunrise Manor in Tyler.

Ila was a member of St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Lake Benton where she was active in the CCW. She was also active in the Sportsmen’s Club, and she volunteered her time for the local food shelf and Senior Dining Program. She was an avid sports fan, enjoyed bowling and playing double-deck pinochle, but she lived to fish. She was known by all as “the Fishing Lady,” a title she earned and held proudly.

She is lovingly remembered by her four children, Pamela (Greg) Severson of Salina, Kansas, Scott (Eileen), Thomas (Mona), and Jeff (Stacy) all of Lake Benton; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Allen (Marge) Thomas of Peoria, Arizona and Dale (Ruth) Thomas of Mitchell; and two sisters, Lucille Boyer and Paulette (Walter) Takeda of Sioux Falls.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Verlyn Thomas; and sister, Delores Brutty.