Dane Oliver Christensen passed peacefully into his eternal life on July 28, 2010, at the Anschutz Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, following a brief battle with cancer.

Born on May 29, 1948, to Marvin and Mildred (Millie) Christensen in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Dane attended elementary school in Whitewood, South Dakota, where he loved playing basketball with his brother as a teammate and his dad as a coach. Dane graduated from Sturgis High School in 1966. Following his graduation from high school, he attended and graduated from Black Hills State College.

Dane lived in several places including Whitewood, Spearfish, Detroit, Denver, Houston, and Sun City. He also held a variety of jobs including working summers during college for Homestake Mining Company, and commercial salmon fishing in Alaska. He spent time with his brothers in Detroit working, coaching, and attending school. Others jobs included being a pharmaceutical salesman, and selling Sports Courts in Houston. Eventually, though, Dane found the career that most suited his compassionate, patient, and outgoing personalityteaching and coaching. Dane taught middle school math for many years in Sturgis, South Dakota. Following his teaching years in Sturgis, Dane moved with his then wife, Barb Aker, to Denver, Colorado, where he continued his successful teaching and coaching careers. He taught in both Evergreen and Denver, Colorado, and was a great role model for his students as he demonstrated a love of learning and the art of patience. Dane's patience allowed him to work diligently with a student until he or she "got" it. He brought an enthusiastic spirit to his classroom, along with his wonderful sense of humor. In addition to the difference he made for children in the classroom, Dane was also recognized for his great coaching abilities. He loved competition, but always taught sportsmanship. He had a natural ability to expect and get 100% effort from his athletes. He was often fondly referred to as "Mr. C"

Dane retired from teaching in 2002, and fully enjoyed his retirement years. Dane would spend winters in Sun City and summers in Whitewood. He loved to play cards and golf, and he pursued both with zest following his retirement. His love of cards and golf allowed him to make and cherish many new friendships both in South Dakota and Arizona.

Faith, family, and friends were what mattered most to Dane. God was Dane's constant source of strength. His steadfast and strong faith allowed him to accept his diagnosis and ultimate death with unwavering confidence that he would have eternal life. Always able to bring out the best in people, Dane will most be remembered for his quick wit, his infectious smile, his beautiful blue eyes, his funny stories and his compassionate, generous soul. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Dane will especially be missed by family members left to grieve his absence including his mother Mildred of Spearfish, South Dakota, and brothers Craig (Kaye) of Denver, Colorado, Steve (Mary) of Spearfish, Tod of Sedona, Arizona, and his sister Marjo (Pat) Peters of Spearfish. Dane's nieces and nephews including Shaun and Derek (Craig's sons), Danielle and Kelly (Steve's daughters) as well as Shane, Summer, Slade, Kaya, and Cade Larscheid (Mary's children and grandchildren), Larissa, Travis, and Tyler (Marjo's children) and Jake, Clay, and Kalei (Tod's children) will also greatly miss their awesome Uncle Dane. Two great-nieces, Hallie and Marrie Luther also survive Dane. Grateful for sharing his life and love is Dane's special friend Janet Estep.

Family members already waiting for him when he arrived in Heaven include his paternal grandparents, Frank and Ethel Christensen, maternal grandparents, Karl and Christina Heimbuch, his father Marvin Christensen, an infant sister Mary Margaret, and an infant great-niece Esther Grace Luther.

All services for Dane will all be held at the Presbyterian Church in Whitewood. The viewing will be Tuesday from 5:00 - 7:00 followed by a prayer and time of sharing service at 7:00. The funeral will be held on Wednesday morning at 10:30. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish.

A memorial has been established to the Whitewood Presbyterian Church.