Michael Lyle Christianson

Michael Lyle Christianson was born on March 6, 1958, to Burdell and Anita Christianson in Duluth, Minnesota. Our family is sad to share that Mike suddenly passed away on May 30, 2025, in his sleep at home. Mike was one of three boys, Gregory Christianson and Jeffery Christianson (Mary), and one sister, Tina Christianson. He had two nephews, Adam Christianson, Joe Christianson (Kathryn), and a niece, Adela Christianson and Cousins, Sharon Eliason (Fran), Paul Mikkelson, and other family members.

Mike loved sports and was a gifted athlete. When he was a young boy, his dad was stationed for three years in London, England in the United States Air Force. His family lived off base in Sudbury Hill. Mike was independent and took the underground tube on his own to the air force base for karate lessons. He played baseball as a young boy, and in high school he played basketball, baseball, and football. Later, he played softball and was happy when the team made it to Sunday because this meant that the team was in the championship. Mike was a homerun hitter! He also played rugby into his 30’s.

Mike graduated from Mountain Home High School in Mountain Home, Idaho in 1976. He was awarded a scholarship to play football at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon. After this, Mike went on to the University of Idaho applying his knack for math and finished his Business Degree in Accounting.

Mike was always a hard worker. He was a paperboy at Mountain Home Air Force Base and in Mountain Home. He would carry the newspapers on his back while riding a motorcycle and throw them on doorsteps. He worked at the lumber mill in Mountain Home. While working his way through college, Mike worked as a cook at the El Rancho in Mountain Home, and as a short order cook at the truck stop off of Broadway Avenue in Boise. Mike drove to Alaska one summer and worked on a fishing boat. While at the University of Idaho, he worked as an assistant to the professors in the business department.

After graduating from the U of I, he got a job at the Fish and Game Department in Accounting. Then, he went on to work for 40 plus years for the Health and Welfare Accounting Department, handling multiple budgets and large accounts for the state. Sometimes he had to put on his suit jacket and report to the legislature.

After retiring in 2020, Mike was able to do some traveling with his mom and sister. He went to his nephew’s wedding in Chicago, then to Kauai to visit his nephew, Joe, and new wife, Kathryn. He enjoyed taking a helicopter trip around the island. The big trip was going to Denmark for two weeks to visit where his mom grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark. Last November, he went to Solvang to enjoy the Pacific Ocean and all kinds of Danish pastries and Danish foods. In February of each year, Mike went to the family condo in McCall. He always celebrated family birthdays and holidays with the family, special ones staying at the Sun Valley Lodge and eating at delicious restaurants and enjoying beautiful scenery. These times were very special!

Many times, Mike’s college professors gave him permission to be excused from class and go on fall hunting trips with his dad. Mike loved being in the woods in the fall. He enjoyed pheasant hunting with his dog, “TC.” Mike enjoyed bowhunting for elk with friends, John and Kent, in Featherville while riding motorcycles. He knew his way around very well.

There were a couple of special trips that Mike had with his brother Jeff. The first was a five-day elk hunting trip. They were out for five days and could hear elk bugling up and down the canyon all night. The others were Hells Canyon and Bruneau white water rafting trips.

Mike was married to Paula Thiel and later divorced.

Mike is survived by his mother, Anita Christianson.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Burdell Christianson; Grandparents, Selmar and Flossie Christianson; Grandmother, Maggi Christensen (George); Aunt and Uncle, Marlys Mikkelson (Harold) and Lyle Christianson.

Mike was a good storyteller and had a fun sense of humor!! His family loved him tremendously, and our hearts are aching! Mike was embracing sobriety at the end of his life, but his body failed him.

The funeral will be at Rost Funeral Home in Mtn. Home, Idaho, on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 11 am.