Nancy Ruth Christensen

Nancy Ruth (Ayers) Christensen, 89, of Newton, passed away on November 17, 2024 at Comfort Care Homes in Newton, Kansas.

The funeral service will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 5356 North Hillside, Wichita, Kansas on Friday November 22, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Pastor Chad Langdon will be officiating. Family visitation will be at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home 120 East Broadway, Newton Kansas on Thursday November 21, 2024 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Nancy was born in rural Peabody, Kansas on July 29, 1935 to C. Fred Ayers and E. Gladwyn Ayers. She attended the Walnut Grove and Foster, one room schools as a child. Nancy lived on a farm in the Walton community with her family until they moved to Newton in 1948. She attended Newton High School and graduated in 1953. Nancy waitressed at a local dinner called Dean’s Diner where she met a handsome customer name Gerald Christensen. They united in marriage in 1954 and were married for 69 years at the time of Gerald’s passing in 2023.

Nancy was a busy stay at home mother until her youngest child was in grade school. At that time she began her career with USD 373. She started at Washington Grade School as a secretary and cafeteria aide. When Washington closed she worked for a short time at Roosevelt Grade School. She retired from the school district in 1995 as a secretary for the Special Education Audiology department.

Nancy was the quintessential housewife and mother. She kept very busy raising her children, gardening, canning and participating in P.T.A. She was an excellent seamstress, making many of her and her family’s clothing items. After her family was raised she devoted much time to her beloved flower garden, and landscaping. She had an outstanding green thumb and never could pass up a weed that needed pulling. Nancy was always very active in many ways with her church. She was a member of the quilting group at Christ Lutheran, making many quilts for miscellaneous charities.

Nancy is survived by her four children; Jeff (Marcene Carstensen), Gina (Mitch Neuenschwander), Gera (Steve Regier), and Jay (Amy Ludwa). Three grandchildren; Ryan Winsler (Nicole Stoecklein), Dustin Leite (Sinead Alexander), and Sarah Tauiliili (Peivi Tauiliili). She was blessed with four great grandchildren; Jordan, Hudson and Benjamin Tauiliili and Savio Leite. She is also survived by three siblings,Charles Ayers, LaDonna Unruh, and Emma Rae Zimmerman. Her youngest sister RoGene Besse passed away in 2021. Nancy also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family has asked in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be given to Christ Lutheran Church Wichita, Kansas or Comfort Care Homes of Newton, Kansas.