Christensen's of Ross' Fork

Rasmus and Anna Christensen

In 1928 Rasmus Christensen bought the Carnegie ranch on Ross’ Fork of Rock Creek from the Kroger Bank (First State Bank). I am assuming the Carnegie children were unable to run the ranch and turned it back to the bank, after the parents died. 

Family history states Rasmus Christensen born in 1880, came to America in 1898. He returned to Denmark to marry Anna Mortensen and after Eli was born in 1902 they immigrated to Tacoma, Washington. They moved to Montana in 1908 according to Eli’s obituary. In 1919 Rasmus began his career with the Northern Pacific Railroad as a section foreman until he retired in 1945. Rasmus continued working on the Railroad after buying the Carnegie place and died at the Northern Pacific Railroad Hospital in Missoula after a short illness on October 29, 1957.

Alice, Eli, Carl, Francis with Baby Bob and toddler Ozzie sitting on the box

 Anna born in 1873 died in 1959 and is buried next to Rasmus. During their marriage seven children were born. The eldest, Constatine Eli Bessmere-Christensen was born in Denmark in 1902 and arrived in the United States at the age of one. In 1908 the family moved to Jens, Montana, then moved to Bearmouth in 1918. In 1928 Eli began working on the Barr Ranch north east of the Christensen place. Eli authored the book, Just watching the sunset, in 1975. While employed at the Hoben/Barr ranch (now the Bauer Ranch), Eli married a niece of Louise Barr. After a short time the niece (name unknown) left the ranch. After Tom Barr died on April 26, 1930, Eli stayed on at the ranch and married Louise (1884-1976) in 1944. 

In 1950 the ranch went bankrupt and they moved to Philipsburg. Eli worked as the janitor at the court house and on the rural mail route. In 1956 they moved to the Virginia City area, then returned to Philipsburg in 1960 and Eli resumed his position as courthouse janitor. As an active citizen Eli served as a county commissioner and then Justice of the Peace. His obituary stated he retired in 1967 but I found an Official Bond notice for him as Justice in The Mail, March 27, 1969. 

Eli married Annie Debree in Anaconda in 1981 and lived in Philipsburg until 1992 when they moved to Deer Lodge where he died on March 9, 1996. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Carl, Oswald, Robert; sister Anne Sullivan and infant brother Oscar and sister Frances who had died as a young girl. 

Rasmus and Annie’s son, Oswald H. known as Ozzie was born in 1911. He worked on the ranch with Robert (Bob) for many years until he married Mrs. Betty (Groves) Horrigan. After their marriage he moved into Philipsburg and helped her manage the Granada Theatre. Ozzie served in the U.S. Army in WWII and died in Philipsburg in 1982. 

Carl Christensen never married and lived out his later life in Kansas. 

Alice Christensen also lived a single life in the Seattle area and California. 

Violet married Frank Hertz who worked for the Milwaukie Railroad and they lived in Deer lodge. They had two daughters: Francis and Anne. She later married a man named Benasch. Her daughter Anne Findlay still lives in Deer Lodge, according to Joel Christiansen.

Robert L. (Bob) born November 13, 1913 spent most of his life on the Christensen ranch. He married Mary Helen Carey from the William M. Carey Ranch, located near the confluence of East Fork and Middle Fork, on August 19, 1937. They had four children: William (1938-2018), Helen (Loran) (1939-2019); James (1942), Steven (1950) and adopted Marilyn (Silva). 

Bob died of cancer on January 11, 1996 at the age of eighty-two and Mary Helen died at the Granite County Medical Center Nursing Home on November 28, 2006. Steven and his wife Ginger continued to operate the ranch until 2008 when they sold out and moved to White Hall. 

Christensen’s kept the Carnegie tradition of raising and slaughtering hogs. Neighbors would go to the ranch early in the day and the men spent the day slaughtering, while the women cooked and the kids played. One year us kids went to the slaughter and watched for a short time before the men shooed us away, so decided to butcher our dolls. We built an elaborate hoist, found a pot to dip the dolls in and brought out hot water, to complete the process. Grandma Christensen saw us hauling out the hot water and told Mom and Mary Helen. When they found us, we had successfully dipped the dolls and were cutting them up. My sister had a ceramic headed doll with eyes that rolled back. The hot water pealed the ceramic head, recessed the eyes and the stuffing fell out as we dismembered her. My rubber doll was not repairable after the hot water and dismemberment. We were all soundly spanked and had to throw away our dolls. I do not know about Helen, but Rosalie and I never had another doll.