Merna Rae Christensen

Merna Saxton was born to Iris and Earl Saxton on August 4, 1941 in Rigby, Idaho.

She was the third of eight children, James, Vernon, Merna, Edwin, Erma Glinski, Jerry, Craig Saxton and Connie Brown and she was proceeded in death by James (infant), Vernon (6 years old), Edwin (infant) and Jerry (infant).

She lived most of her young life in Rigby, Idaho and attended school in Rigby until she married at 18 years old.

She married Elwin Tharen Jackson, they had three children, Russ Jackson of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho; Debbie Daybrest of Custer South Dakota and Kathy Jackson of Soda Springs. They made their home in Buffalo, Wyoming and divorced in 1975 and moved back to Idaho.

She moved to Bancroft, Idaho and became manager and owner of Howard’s Café for several years.

She married Carl John Christensen in 1977 and later divorced in 1985. She continued to make her home in Bancroft, Lava Hot Springs and Soda Springs.

She continued with nursing and home health care until she retired in 2006.

She lived in Soda Springs in her later years being cared for by her daughter, Kathy Jackson. 

She enjoyed crafts of all sorts and computer games, anything that was challenging and kept her mind active.

She passed away December 20, 2024.