C. R. “Russ” Christensen

Chris Russell (Russ) Christensen was born on the homestead his father claimed on the Cheyenne River in Niobrara County. Russ rode his horse to a country school until he attended Newcastle High School. After graduation, he served in the Army as a medic during the Korean War. That is where he met his bride, Ruth. She was a New Jersey gal that fell in love with a tall, handsome cowboy from out West. Russ brought her back to the family ranch, where they would raise three sons, Mike, Tom, and Bill. Russ raised cattle, sheep, and Appaloosa horses for many years. These days he still runs a cow/calf operation. A patient man, he often had at least seven kids riding around in a stock truck or horseback with him. During summer months he not only had his three boys, but two nephews and two nieces in tow. Russ taught all the kids how to ride, rope, doctor sick cattle, shear sheep, dock lambs, brand calves and colts, fix fence, mechanic on windmills, and break horses. Being so far from town, Russ knew and taught the kids how to make do with what they had, how to build something they couldn’t drive to town for, and how to save parts for later use. Russ served on the Niobrara Predatory Board for many years.