Fredrik (Fred) Melius Christiansen III

Fredrik (“Fred”) Melius Christiansen II, age 92, of Roseville, Minnesota, passed away on November 4, 2021. Preceded in death by his parents Olaf and Ellen Christiansen; his sister Sylvia Buselmeier; and his son Fredrik Melius Christiansen III. Survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Mary; his sons William (Amy) Christiansen and John Christiansen; his daughter Thiri Christiansen (Marge Keyes); his daughter-in-law Chandra Christiansen; his grandchildren Brandon Christiansen and Alex Christiansen; his sisters Sigrid Ostrem and Julie Christiansen (Carl Dietz); and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Named after his grandfather, Dr. F. Melius Christiansen, conductor, composer, and founder of the St. Olaf Choir, Fred grew up in Oberlin, Ohio, New York City, and Northfield, Minnesota, steeped in the family’s choral and band musical tradition. He was active in the Lutheran Church throughout his life, especially at St. John’s in Northfield, the University Lutheran Church of Hope in Minneapolis, and St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Roseville. Fred’s career in music started during the Korean War when he joined the 199th Army Band at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas. During his tryout, the director asked him what instrument he played, and Fred replied, “all of them.” He went on to teach and direct bands at Valier, Montana and St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Fred’s love of music remained with him throughout his life, as he played in a brass group, with the Roseville Big Band, and with several other musical groups.

Fred attended the University of Minnesota, where he studied architecture and acoustics. Mentoring by Thomas Ellerbe, the St. Paul architect, set Fred on a path of working with a veritable who’s who list of mid-century Minnesota architects. He appreciated the utilitarian aspects of modern architectural design, finding both pleasure and beauty in the beneficial and efficient use of space, light and material, focusing his talents on school and hospital projects. Fred was the Director of School Facilities for the State of Minnesota in the 1970s, and then worked as a healthcare facility consultant where he was especially focused on projects with the Indian Health Service.

Summers were enjoyed in the multi-generational family home at Sister Bay, Wisconsin. During the winter, Fred was an avid skier, making countless trips to the mountains with his family and with the “Minnesota Over-the-Hill Skiers” group. He learned to fly in high school and enjoyed piloting small planes for both transportation and fun. (Utility and joy would be a recurring combination for Fred throughout his life.) Fred must have flown to every school district in Minnesota during his career, and in retirement, he enjoyed the grand adventure of flying with a good pal over the Lewis & Clark route in his Pitts Special, the biplane that dominated world aerobatic competition in the 1960s and ‘70s. Fred volunteered at schools and was a ham radio enthusiast. He loved to play golf—remembering his score from practically every round he played—while appreciating the sociability of the game. Fred was always anxious to help—building houses or fixing anything—often in creatively artistic and uniquely unusual ways. He loved a good conversation, sometimes even a strong argument, as Fred knew something about and had an opinion on just about everything, it seemed! He outlived many of those he loved, but he will be missed by the friends and family members whose lives he touched.

Funeral services will be held at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Roseville, MN on November 13 at 3:30 PM. Burial in the family section of the cemetery at Sister Bay, Wisconsin. Memorial gifts, in lieu of flowers please, to the F. Melius and Olaf Christiansen scholarship at St. Olaf College or St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Roseville, MN.

memorial service

Funeral

November 13, 2021

St Michael's Lutheran Church 1660 County B Rd W, Roseville, MN 55113, USA