Georgia A (Pajunen) Christianson

Georgia Alyce Pajunen Christianson went to join her husband, Larry “Chris,” in heaven on September 25, 2024.  She was surrounded by her family and loved ones and much love and laughter.  Mostly, she was the one making us laugh.  She was trying to “fix things” for her family to the very end, as this was her lifelong pursuit:  making sure that everyone else was happy and okay.  She was always there when you needed her most, before you even knew you did.

 Georgia was born in Chisholm Minnesota to George and Taimi Pajunen on November 16, 1931, the second of four children.  She grew up on Dewey Lake, where she spent many days dancing to Polka music with relatives playing on their harmonicas and accordions. She forever loved music, to sing and to dance.  She attended high school in Hibbing, Minnesota where she had a huge crush on Larry “Chris” Christianson.  Her family moved to Yakama, Washington prior to her senior year, leaving her crush behind.  When Georgia moved back to Hibbing, she was hospitalized with Polio, an almost entirely unfortunate turn of events except for the excitement of a visit from her old school crush.  She was less excited that he brought all his buddies with him.

 Georgia and Larry were later married on October 28, 1954, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Hibbing and raised a beautiful family together for 59 years before Larry passed in 2013.  They made their home in Kelly Lake until 1967, moving to a home on Highland Park (Pill Hill) until they retired.  They later moved into Real Life in Hibbing, where the ever-busy Georgia helped in the office, taught exercise classes and was a member of the board there.

 Georgia worked at Max Gray Company for many years, and later at E.W. Coons.  Her love of bookkeeping was not confined to work, as she taught all her girls how to balance their checkbooks down to the penny before they graduated from high school. Georgia also sold Mary Kay until a few years ago, and whether the brand blessed her with her eternal youthful glow, or she was simply their best advertisement for it, we’ll never know.  She taught her daughters the art of sales by helping them to sell the most buttons when they were in Hibbing Winter Frolic. 

Georgia’s first love behind her savior Jesus Christ was her family.  Georgia loved her six daughters fiercely.  She and Larry named their middle daughter Hope because they were hoping the next one would be a boy (no such luck).  She taught her daughters how to be good friends, good sisters, and the best mothers.  When one of her girls blessed her with another grandchild, Georgia was by their side, waking in the night to change a diaper and bring them to mom, swaddled and ready to eat.  She was the gift that kept on giving.

 Georgia and Larry also took in a few nephews over the years.  One, Corey Christianson, came to her side this past week, which was such a blessing to her.  He is now not just a cousin, but our brother.

 Georgia is survived by her six daughters, Susan Jones, Lori (Ole) Brown, Rhonda (Ron) Wiiliainen, Hope (Tim) Renskers, Lisa (Kevin) Knoop and Maria (Keith Paulson).  She is survived by 22 grandchildren, Karl (Katherine) Wiiliainen, Hana (Travis) Marsh, Shannon (Jason) Gaboriau, Kristofer Brown, Erin (Andrea) McClellan, Timmy McClellan, TJ (Krissy) Renskers, Josh (Bernie) Renskers,  JJ Smokrovich,  Sibley (Michael) Hanegmon, Mikey Smokrovich, Christian (Ryley) Renskers, Alyce (Matt) Mikkonen, Jordan (Emily) Knoop, Hailey (Dylan) Dresel, Mitchell (Korie) Arseneau, Justin Paulson, Jared (Ashley) Paulson, Kelly Jones, Crystal (Justin) Bessler, Merrily Jones, and Ashley (Jon) Sayler.  She was preceded in death by her beautiful granddaughters, Whitney Hope Arseneau and Angela Jones, whom she was eager to reunite with again.  Georgia also has 28 great-grandchildren.  She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

 Besides her two granddaughters, Georgia was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Roy Christianson Jr., parents, George and Taimi Pajunen, her siblings and their spouses, Geraldine (Art) Cappo, Duane (Gloria) Pajunen and Carole (Jim) Helstrom and her sons-in-law Craig Offre and Tim McClellan. 

Memorial service will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church on Friday, October 11th at 11:00 a.m. with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m.  Inurnment will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery at 1:00 p.m.  Memorials are preferred to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, or to the donors charity of choice.

Family services are provided by Anderson-Daniels, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, in Hibbing.  To express condolences online please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.