Emma Renee Ellis Christensen was born to Calvin and PerLytha Medford Ellis on June 21, 1937 in Blackfoot, Idaho. She had one brother, Gerald Ellis, who enlisted in the Navy right after he graduated from high school. (He was one of those Red Devils-and he was very proud of that!!) She married Douglas Jack Christensen at a young age and they have 4 children: Karyn (Mark) Thompson; Kim (Virginia) Christensen; Kelly (Stephanie) Christensen; and Kasey (Stephanie) Christensen. They have 29 grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren.

 

She has lived in Caribou County all of her life, with the exception of 2 years, when she lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She went to Grace Elementary School until the 6th grade. She and her mother lived behind the Chadwick's store, then she and her mother moved to Soda Springs when dial telephones came in. Her mother was the Chief telephone operator. She didn't want to leave Grace, as she loved playing on the playground, playing hopscotch, run sheep run, Annie I over, Mother May I?, and such games as that with her friends.

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When she moved to Soda Springs, she was in 7th grade and made the cheer squad, and was a cheerleader through her Junior year. She met Jack when he was a referee for thejunior high basketball games, and she was "the cheerleader!" He was a senior and "only had eyes for her!!" She claims that she and the other cheerleaders made up the Soda Springs High School school song that we sing today!!! She stayed with her Uncle Dave and Aunty Belle on the ranch that is now owned by the Robbins in Thatcher. She helped milk the cows, feed the chickens, feed the bum lambs, and gather eggs. She remembers cutting the heads off the chickens, and then having them for dinner!!! She spent a lot of time at Bill & Jamie Stalder's and their daughter Jackie, at the motel here in Grace.

 

She and Jack had several businesses, which included 47 years owning the Arctic Circle; a Coast to Coast Hardware store in both Soda Springs and Salmon; a laundromat; a cattle business and a small ranch. Renee worked at Stoor's Grocery; the credit bureau, the Shell gas station, and tended children in their home. Renee has been to many rodeos, watching her husband Jack as he rode bareback horses. His nickname was "Bareback Jack!" Now their grandchildren and great grandchildren have a love for rodeo-which she says must have come from Grandpa Jack!! He would have loved to have been here to watch all of them. She feels very honored to have been chosen as the 2025 Grand Marshal of this years Caribou County Fair & Rodeo. She and Jack supported the fair and rodeo for many years.