Paul Rudolph Christiansen

Paul Rudolph Christiansen, 88, of Glendale, CA, passed away Tuesday, April 7th, of Congestive Heart Failure. He died just 3 months short of his 89th birthday.
Paul was born in Salt Lake City, Utah,on July 23,1926 to Rudolph Ingwald and Louise Julia Jones Christiansen. He was the oldest of 3 children and the only son born to Rudy and Louise.
After graduating from West High School, he enrolled at the University of Utah where he studied for a year before enlisting in the Navy. He spent time in the Pacific arena, until World War II ended in 1945. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, Paul served a 3 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Norway. He lost his dear mother while he was serving there. Upon returning home, he went back to school at the University of Utah where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
On September 24, 1951, Paul married Letha Moyes in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Glendale, California a year or so later and never left. He worked for the Southern California Gas Company and then Lockheed for a couple of years before joining General Electric Company where he worked as a Field Service Engineer for well more than 35 years. He enjoyed traveling all over the Southern California area working on large electrical equipment for many different companies and organizations.
He and Letha had four children of their own, Nancy, Jolyn, Russell and Greta, and took in many foster children. They were also asked to host and house foreign exchange students in 1975, and continued to do so for about 15 years. These high school students came from all over the world and would stay for a year. Paul and Letha were always very generous in taking in others who needed a place to stay.
In 1988, Paul retired from General Electric, and in 1991, he and Letha were called on an 18 month mission to Norway for their church. He enjoyed serving in the same area he had served in 40 years earlier as a young missionary and in the country of his paternal ancestors.
Paul was called to be President of the Armenian Branch in the Glendale Stake for the LDS church and served in this capacity for 5 years. He and Letha were also Los Angeles Temple workers for many years.
One of Paul's greatest loves was music. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang whenever he had the opportunity. He also played the piano and organ. He spent 40 years singing with the Southern California Mormon Choir and toured all over the world with them. He continued to play the organ at church until he could no longer see well enough to play. He was still singing in the church choir a week before he passed away.
Paul was a generous person and was always willing to help others. He had a good sense of humor and had many friends.
Paul was preceded in death by his wife Letha Christiansen, mother, Louise Christiansen, father, Rudolph Christiansen, sister, Jean Biesinger, stepmother, Mildred Christiansen, brother, Gary Christiansen, two brother-in-laws, Tom Biesinger and Ray Richmond, and a son-in-law, Richard Meyer. He is survived by his daughters, Nancy Christiansen, Jolyn Meyer, and Greta Kelly (Philip), and son, Russell Christiansen (Mariko), sisters, LaRue Richmond, Karen Gray (Farrell), grandsons, James and Eric Meyer, Spencer, Sean, Scott and Skyler Christiansen, Christian Kelly, and a granddaugther, Torrey Kelly. He is also survived by three great grandchildren, Ryan and Trent Meyer (James and Meagan), and Juniper Meyer (Eric and Crystal). Another great granddaughter will be born to James and Meagan in June. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A viewing will be held from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at the Glendale 2nd Ward LDS Church Building, 1101 N. Central Avenue in Glendale, on Saturday, April 18th, followed by the funeral services at 11:00 a.m. At the conclusion of the services, the interment will be at the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery.