St. George, Utah - Chris Wheeler, 97, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2021.

Chris was born November 13, 1923, to Frank and Esther Christensen in Viborg, SD. She had two sisters and one brother. She attended school in Viborg and after graduating from high school, she moved to Colorado Springs, CO where she found employment as a bookkeeper. In June of 1943 she married Joseph J. Wheeler, who was serving in the Army in Colorado Springs. From Colorado Springs they moved to Amherst, MA where their son, Paul, was born. Chris also lived in New York City with her husband's family while he served in the Army in Hawaii.

After the service, they settled in Huron, SD where she attended college and received her two-year degree in Education and began teaching at a one-room country school. Three more children were born in Huron: Jay, Janet, and Gloria. After several more moves, the family settled in Aberdeen, SD where Chris graduated with honors from Northern States Teachers College with a four-year degree in Education. They moved to Minnesota in 1962 and after several moves, they settled in Battle Lake, MN where she continued to teach elementary school and then spent the last two years before retirement as a librarian.

Chris enjoyed many activities including archery, golf, tennis, bridge, dominos, ICL classes at Dixie College (particularly opera and poetry), traveling, lunch with friends and reading, which was her passion.

Chris is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, her husband and her son, Jay. She is survived by her son, Paul; daughter, Janet (Terry); daughter, Gloria (Douglas); and seven grandchildren: Angela Wheeler McGuire, Jacquelyn Hunter, Amanda Wheeler Singer, Christopher Wheeler, Savannah Wheeler, Alexander Wolf and Ilsa Wolf. She is also survived by three great-grandsons: Maxwell McGuire and Benjamin and Caleb Singer.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at 1:00 pm at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.

Chris Wheeler Service Program