Linda Christensen, 69, passed away at her home on July 31, 2018 surrounded by family. Visitation will be held Friday, August 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. James Lutheran Church, 5665 Merle Hay Rd. in Johnston, IA and the funeral service on Saturday, August 4 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 600 6th Ave. in Des Moines, IA.

Linda was born January 23, 1949 in Boston, MA, to Donald Wayne Murray and Rita Mary Murray, nee Duffy. She attended Ralston High School, Midland Lutheran College, the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Iowa State University and Drake University. In high school and college she was noted for her beautiful soprano voice which she continued to use in the St. John's Cathedral Choir, Des Moines Choral Society, and Vocal Arts Ensemble. 

Linda did not consider herself a good student, but she was a phenomenal teacher. Her connection with children was immediate, and their trust in her instinctive. A true beauty, her appearance was not what struck people about her. It was her warmth, compassion, genuine care and nurture, and her passion and gentle insistence on justice for all God's people. It would only take moments for anyone Linda met to realize they were in the presence of an extraordinary individual. 

Linda was a life-long learner and had an insatiable desire to learn as much as she could about God, religion, and spirituality. She was constantly searching and asking others about the Way of Jesus Christ and the love of God, though her own deep and heart-felt knowledge was obvious to all. 

She is survived by her husband, Larry Alvin Christensen; son, Erik Charles Christensen and his husband, Kerry DeVaughn Jenkins; daughter, Tara Luktarn Christensen and her fiancée, Christopher Carmichael; sister, Judith "Judi" Lee Novotny, nee Murray; brothers, Donald "Don" Wayne Murray II, and Richard "Rick" Alan Murray. 

Memorials may be directed to The After School Arts Program (ASAP) or Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM).

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Published in Des Moines Register on Aug. 2, 2018