passed away at home on April 23, 2008, surrounded by her family. She had fought a hard battle with cancer. Mae was born May 16, 1938, in Kalispell to Olaf and Julia Erickson. She was raised in the Flathead Valley of Montana.

She married Kenneth Christensen on Aug. 13, 1955. They had two children, Dennis and Tammy. She worked as a nurse's aide at the Kalispell Regional Hospital for many years until moving to Alaska In 1983. She was employed at McPeak's Badger Store until she retired. She attended Fairhill Community Church of God in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Mae enjoyed knitting, sewing, cooking, canning foods, cards, her friends from church and her family. She was always ready to take care of guests with food and conversation. She was always concerned for others. She worked right alongside her husband building their homes in Alaska and Montana.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; her father, Olaf Erickson; her mother, Julia Erickson; her stepmothers, Alice Erickson and Agnes Erickson; her sister, Julia Erickson Weber; her brother, John Erickson; her grandson, Kevin Krause; and her grandson-in-law, Sean Hill.

Mae is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and John Phillips; son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Betty Christensen; grandchildren, Kristina Hill, Melissa Gray, Cindy Shurte and husband Rob, and Doug and Heidi Christensen; great-grandchildren, Rowan Hill, Zachary Gray, Gabriel Shurte and Keegan Coghill; sisters and brother-in-law, Bertha Watson and Ellen and Bob Rickard; brothers, Orlee, Leslie and Larry Erickson; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held April 26 at Fairhill Community Church of God in Fairbanks. Inurnment will follow in May when she will be laid to rest next to her husband.