Riverside, Calif., October, 2000-- After a long illness, Viktor Christensen died on Tuesday morning, Oct. 10, 2000, in Bend, Oregon, where he and his wife Vera had lived since 1993. Dr. Christensen was 79.

Viktor came to La Sierra College from his native Denmark in 1957, and completed a bachelor's degree in physical education two years later. He taught at Fresno Academy for several years, returning to La Sierra College in 1962 as instructor in the Health and Physical Education Department; he was also acting chair of the department for two years.

In 1968, Viktor became associate professor and chair of curriculum and instruction in the School of Education. A year later he completed a PhD in education at USC. From 1974-81 he was associate dean of the La Sierra University School of Education, years marked by strengthened teacher preparation and credentialing programs. In 1981, Viktor moved into public relations and development, retiring in 1987 when he became a part-time public relations consultant. He was named professor emeritus in 1988.

Ever an active alumnus, Dr. Christensen served as La Sierra's alumni association president from 1971-73. He was among those who raised funds for La Sierra's Alumni Pavilion, completed in 1972. At Homecoming in March 2000, Viktor was named University Alumnus of the Year in recognition of his many contributions, not only to La Sierra but to Seventh-day Adventist education in general.

Viktor's memorial service will be Sat., Oct. 21, 4 p.m. in the Bend (Ore.) Seventh-day Adventist Church. The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Christensen Scholarship Fund at La Sierra University.

Viktor is survived by his wife of 55 years, Vera; daughter Berit Von Pohle, LSU'79,'86,'94; son-in-law Chico Von Pohle; granddaughters Heidi Hickok and her husband Brian, LSU'99, and Brooke Osborne; and daughter-in-law Judi Christensen. Viktor and Vera's son Bjarne "Bj" Christensen, LSU'71, predeceased him on Sept. 3, 2000.