Petersburg Pilot -

Geneva Mary Christensen, 89, died on August 29 in Seattle, Washington after a short illness.

On November 15, 1929, the world was blessed with a feisty, firecracker named Geneva "Neva" Mary Simmons. She was born in New Salem, North Dakota to Charles and Mary Fisher-Simmons. She was known for her sweet nature, enthusiasm for life, and delightful sense of humor. She had an open heart and a home for anyone in need.

Her family relocated from North Dakota to Washington in 1937, where she spent her childhood with her siblings. Geneva graduated from Washington High School in Walla Walla, Washington in 1948.

She was led to begin a position that came naturally to her, an officer in the Salvation Army, in which she traveled the western states playing the trombone in the Salvation Army band. Neva connected with others by providing outreach to the community for those in need of salvation, encouragement, and support.

She came to Petersburg in 1954 through the Salvation Army. During her beginning years in Petersburg, she could be found playing in the Salvation Army band, parading down Main Street, and collecting donations from the people in the bars.

Neva's exceptional qualities and dynamic personality soon caught the eye of Petersburg commercial fisherman Chris Christensen and they married in 1955. Chris had three children whom Neva raised as her own, and they had four children together. Neva's family was her greatest joy and she cherished time spent with her children- providing her family with unconditional love, affection, and care.

Her dedication, commitment, and adoration for Petersburg was represented by the several boards, charitable organizations, and community meetings in which she participated. These include; member of the PTA, Sons of Norway, Cub Scout Leader, RAC, and Little League Auxiliary. She also worked as the DSHS caseworker for years.

Neva was a member of the Lutheran Church where she served in many capacities: children's choir leader, adult choir member, Sunday school teacher, acolyte instructor, and member of the church council.

She had a neighborhood float for the 4th of July parade and was extremely involved in Mayfest activities. She enjoyed her time spent managing her arts and crafts shop Husfliden, during the 1990s. In addition to arts and crafts, Neva's hobbies included baking, sewing, knitting, reading the Bible, oil painting, water coloring, bringing snacks for coffee time after church, gardening, reading love stories, and shopping on senior day.

Neva was preceded in death by her husband, Chris; sister, Frances; brother, Leroy; and great-grandson, Landon.

Neva is survived by her sister, Edythe Johnson; children, Christen, Lawrence, Anna, Charles, Lars, Mary, Mali, as well as her daughter from another mother (as Neva would say), Veronique; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Angela, Adrianne, Erika, Sarah, Oliver, Ricky, Christen (Fax), Daniel, Hal, Chris, Johanna, Lane, Duane, Sammi Jo, Elsie, Charles, Charlie, Anders, Zackery, Annie, and Tucker; great-grandchildren, Jaden, Kaden, Camille, Jace, Ashley, Annabelle, Ryan, Leif, Liam, Tyler, September, Brady, and Marina; and Neva's cousin, Lois.

A service will be held at the Petersburg Lutheran Church at 1pm on Sunday, September 24, 2017. A reception will follow at the Sons of Norway hall at 3pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Petersburg Lutheran Church or the Salvation Army.