Avis Mercedes Christianson, 91, of Blooming Prairie, died at Austin Medical Center Friday, April 20, 2007. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, rural Blooming Prairie with The Reverend Bruce Falksen officiating. Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday at Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home and at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment is at Red Oak Grove Cemetery.

Avis Christianson was born April 30, 1915, to Carl and Nilanna “Nelly”(Wigtil) Kittelson in Freeborn County. On March 20, 1935, she married Kenneth Christianson at First Lutheran Parsonage, Blooming Prairie. The couple lived on a farm near Corning for over 30 years and then moved to Blooming Prairie. Avis belonged to Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church where she was an active member of the choir and many youth and ladies organizations. Her interests included education and gardening. She held positions on the ACC Advisory Board, Blooming Prairie Garden Club and musical groups. While a homemaker, Avis kept a journal and enjoyed scrapbooks.

Survivors include three daughters, Barb (Ron) Manbeck of Corvallis, Ore.; Marilyn Styve of Afton; Janet (Gordon) Beavers of Golden Valley; two sons, Jerome (Betty) Christianson of Austin; Gary (Terry) Christianson of Seattle, Wash.; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Nina Ingvalson of Austin; one brother, Harlan Kittelson of Austin; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Clinton (Adeline) Christianson of Blooming Prairie; two sisters-in-law, Irene Filley of Blooming Prairie, Frieda Christianson of Blooming Prairie. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nelly and Carl Kittelson; her husband, Kenneth in 2003; daughter, Rosanne Wennes in 2004; brother, Allan; sons-in-law, John Styve and Richard Wennes.