Donald Christen Sr.

Donald Floyd Christen Sr., 73, of Mountain Home, passed away on Feb. 5, 2014.

A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Mountain Home Idaho Stake Center. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

Our father lived for nearly 74 years, missing his birthday by only 15 days. He was born on Feb. 20, 1940.

A military veteran, he served in the U.S. Army, ultimately receiving an honorable discharge. A former welterweight boxer and convicted felon, Don spent the final 20 years of his life trying to bring his family closer together. He believed in that idea more than anything else. His sons brought to him the only light he had known since the passing of his beloved mother, "Helen" Florence Benson.

Our father died from stage four cancer. Though he suffered until his death, he found peace from being with his sons and being cared for by them. He also has a brood of grandchildren: D.J., Steven, Samantha, Raven, Wyatt Jr., Malia, Kylee, Mia, Austin and one great-grandchild, Ariel.

He lived a long life and reaped a harvest of worth, love, honor and duty. He also paid his whole life for losing a wife he loved until his death, Velvet Viola Richardson. We will miss him.

Don is survived by his children, Donald Christen Jr. and his wife, Lisa, Wyatt Christen and his wife, Jamie, Malachi MacGregor-Reign and his wife, Janell, and Ezekiel MacGregor-Reign, Rabecca, Evelyn and Donald LeRoy Christen, his brothers, Glenn, Tom, Mike and David, his sisters, Carolyn and Kathy, 18 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, LeRoy.