Ethel D. Christensen age 91, of Hot Springs, passed away March 20, 2013, at the VA Medical Center in Hot Springs.

Ethel was born October 12, 1921, in Bozeman, MT, to Carl and Rosemae (Poore) Haymond. She graduated from Park County High School in Livingston, MT. She attended college in Bozeman, MT.

Ethel served in the U.S. Army during WWII, serving in New Guinea, the Philippines and Australia. She was honorably discharged in 1945. On March 17, 1946, she married John Charles Christensen in Livingston, MT. To this union three children were born.

Survivors include her husband, John C. Christensen of Hot Springs; son, John S. (Peggy) Christensen of Rapid City, SD; daughters, Jean Gilkey of Riverton, WY; Laura (Bill) Stanten of Imperial Beach, CA; sisters, Helen Thompson of San Diego, CA; Linda Lester of Colorado Springs, CO; Marjorie Beckman of Bozeman, MT; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 29, 2013, at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs with Pastor Morris Nelson officiating. Interment will be held at 2:00 p.m., at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD, with the South Dakota National Guard and the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guards providing Military Honors.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapels of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.