Robert Christensen

Robert Reed “Bob” Christensen, 90, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on Aug. 12, 2026. Bob was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, farmer, pilot, and lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Bob was born Dec. 23, 1935, in Ellensburg, Washington, the youngest of five children of LeRoy and Lucy Faye Wilson Christensen. During the Great Depression, his family moved to Kittitas, Washington, where Bob grew up and graduated from Kittitas High School. After attending one semester at Brigham Young University, Bob returned home to begin farming. He married his sweetheart, Joanne “Jo” McMahan, on Nov. 12, 1955. Together they shared more than 70 years of marriage.

In 1957, Bob and his brothers moved from Kittitas to the Royal Slope as the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project opened new land for development. The brothers sold the family farm in Kittitas, and the Christensen brothers cleared the land and began farming.

In 1974, Bob began clearing land and farming on the Wahluke Slope while continuing to farm in both the Royal Slope and Wahluke Slope areas. Bob and Jo moved to the Wahluke Slope in 1993.

Farming was Bob’s life’s work and a source of great pride. He was widely respected for his skill, knowledge and dedication. His family often heard from people they barely knew that Bob was “one of the best farmers in the Columbia Basin.” That reputation was a great source of pride to his family.

Bob also had a lifelong passion for flying. He owned both a Cherokee Six airplane and an Enstrom helicopter, and flying remained one of his great interests throughout his life.

Faith and service were central to Bob’s life. He served in numerous ward and stake leadership positions, including as a bishop, and participated in local missionary service. He also gave approximately 20 years of temple service. Bob and Jo served two two-year Church missions in Africa, first in Zimbabwe and later in South Africa, approximately 20 years apart.

Bob is survived by his wife, Jo, and their five sons Neil Robert Christensen, Richard “Rick” Dean Christensen, Del Alan Christensen, Karl Reed Christensen and Dana LeRoy Christensen. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents LeRoy and Lucy Faye Christensen; his four siblings Jay LeRoy Christensen, Dee W. Christensen, Joyce Christensen, and Ted Vance Christensen; and his daughter-in-law Becky Rexius Christensen.

Bob leaves a legacy of hard work, faith, service, family, and a deep love for the land he farmed. He will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him.

Please express your thoughts and memories at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser’s Chapel of Memories of Moses Lake, Washington.