William Leroy Christensen passed away on September 13, 2025, near his lifelong family farm. He was born to Leroy and Esther Christensen on August 18, 1945, in Hutchinson and baptized and confirmed in faith at Faith Lutheran Church.
 William attended school district #79 and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1963. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard 682 Battalion. During his time of enlistment, he achieved the expert marksmanship award and was very proud of that.
 In 1964, he attended Staples Vo-Tech School Tool and Die program and following that, worked at 3M. He also attended the Minnesota School of Business for computer programming. He enjoyed working in construction for a few years as well. His whole life, he lived and worked on his family farm, Christensen Dairy, east of Hutchinson, with his dad, uncle, son, and grandchildren. At the time of his death, the farm has been in the Christensen family for 115 years.
 In 1973, he married the love of his life, Gayle Dostal, who was a neighbor. They shared 52 years of marriage. They shared a love of Christ from their first date and throughout his whole life. God blessed them with three children, Jon, Jason, and Katie, and eight grandchildren, Parker, Paige, Peyton, Ella, Chet, Jade, Taylor, and Dean.
 Bill served as vice chair as Hutchinson Township Supervisor, Joint Planning board member, captain of the McLeod County Sheriff Posse, Farmers Elevator Board member, member of McLeod County Board of Adjustments, and president and state director of MN High School Rodeo, District 2. You would always find Bill listening to his favorite ‘50s and ‘60s music and sharing it with his grandkids.
 Some of his favorite memories included a trip to Alaska in 1983 on a once-in-a-lifetime hunting trip. He loved spending his early mornings at the farm, goose hunting every fall with the people he loved the most, his family and close friends. He enjoyed teaching others and sharing his passion for hunting. Every year, he looked forward to his Montana deer hunting trips, and in 2014, they purchased a home in Columbia Falls, Mont., which they’ve enjoyed for six years. He loved sitting on the deck watching the deer, bears, and other animals on their property.
 Bill was most proud of his children and grandchildren. He dedicated his later years to helping raise and care for his grandkids. The highlight of his life was spending time with them and teaching them life skills. He traveled around the country to watch them compete in sporting events, car racing, demo derbies, and rodeos. He was always smiling and laughing while around his grandkids. He loved shooting clay pigeons with them, watching westerns, and going for Kubota rides.
 William lived by a simple but powerful creed: be honest, keep your promises, love God, your family, and always stand up for what’s right. He had unwavering support for his loved ones and deep respect for hunting and gun rights.
 He is survived by his wife Gayle of Hutchinson; children: Jon Christensen (Annie) of Hutchinson, Jason Christensen (Annalisa) of Excelsior, Katie Wilson (Bradley) of Rathdrum, Idaho, and Todd Johnson (Connie) of Randall; grandchildren: Parker, Paige, Peyton Christensen, Ella and Chet Christensen, Jade Stoddard, Taylor and Dean Wilson; in-laws: Dean and Coleen Dostal, Larry and Rosa Dostal and Mary Christensen.
 He is preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Esther Christensen, brothers, Lester and Jim Christensen, brother-in-law Curtis Dostal and his in-laws Irvin and Loretta Dostal.
 A visitation will be held on Saturday, September 20 AT THE CHURCH from 9 until 11 a.m.
 Funeral Services for William “Bill” Christensen will be held on Saturday, September 20 at 11 a.m.. at Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. Pastor Kurt Weber will officiate.
 Interment will follow at Bohemian National Cemetery in Silver Lake.
 The Maresh Funeral Home in Silver Lake is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.mareshfuneralhome.com.