Hal Christiansen

Hal Richard Christiansen, 53, of Idaho City, formerly of Mountain Home, died at his home on Aug. 30, 2008, in Idaho City, in the arms of his wife, Debbie.

Memorial services will be held at The Community Center, 205 Commercial St., in Idaho City, on Friday, Sept. 12, at 4 p.m.

Hal was born Sept. 15, 1954, in Ontario, Ore. He was a graduate of Mountain Home High School and earned a degree in Business Administration and Computer science from Boise State University.

Hal was working at The Sun Valley Lodge when he met Debbie McKenzie, "the true and only love in his life," his family said. They were married in Hailey on June 25, 1974, and were together for just over 34 years.

Hal received his culinary training from Peter Schott in Sun Valley and worked for him in Boise. Hal and Debbie worked together for years, he in the kitchen, she in the dining room. Later Hal worked as the assistant manager of Food Services at Gowen Field, where he served the troops in training. "He greatly enjoyed preparing savory meals for the servicemen and even delivering and serving those hot meals in the field," his family noted.

Hal and Debbie opened the Goldmine Eatery in Idaho City over 11 years ago. "They loved the eccentric mountain town and planned to always call it home."

Hal was serving on the city council for Idaho City at the time of his death.

He is survived by: his wife, Debbie; his parents Richard and Myrna Christiansen of Nampa; his brother, Jay Christiansen, and his wife, Becky, of Seattle, Wash.; two sisters, Dee Pender of Seattle and Kae Eurto and her husband, Eldon, of Culver, Ore., and several aunts cousins, nephews and nieces.