Rex D Christensen April 29, 1951 ~ March 6, 2023

Rex D Christensen, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2023, surrounded by his family.
Rex was born in Monticello to Don F. Christensen and Beth Anderson Christensen on April 29, 1951.
His sisters Karen, Carol, and Louise welcomed their baby brother with open arms. At the age of 10, their mother tragically passed away, leaving his sisters to fill that role.
Rex spent his entire life in Monticello. As a young boy, his father Don took him to work with him at the SS Cattle Company for the summers. This is where he earned his nickname “Tough.”
In 1970, Rex met the love of his life Bernie Arellano and just three short months later, they were married on July 31.
On that day he gained his first daughter Denette who was almost two at the time.
In 1971, their only son Jon was born and died shortly after birth.
They proceeded to have four more daughters: Stephanie, Dawn, Beth, and Leesa.
They later gained another daughter when their niece Christina Zatkalik came to live with them in 1986. He loved her as if she was his own.
Rex was an incredibly hard worker. He worked for Vernon Schafer hauling drilling mud and would also help out at harvest time cutting wheat. 
In 1970, he was drafted into the US Army. He was honorably discharged a short time later due to bad feet.
He started work at Blue Mountain Meats as a butcher at the age of 17. Rex also did several other jobs there. He retired from Blue Mountain Meats after 47 years. 
He wasn’t all work and no play. Rex loved to go camping, hunting, fishing, and 4 wheeling. There was no place the yellow blazer or yellow jeep could not go! 
Rex and Bernie were married for 52 years. They have six daughters, 18 grandkids, and 16 great grandchildren with two on the way. 
In his last few years, he didn’t get out much, but you could always bet on seeing his famous wave from the bench on his back porch. Rex was a simple man. He didn’t need much and never had a bad thing to say about anyone. He touched so many lives and we are so grateful to have been a part of his life.
Services were held at the Monticello Stake Center on March 10, 2023. He was laid to rest at the Monticello Cemetery.
Rex is survived by his wife Bernie, sisters Karen Vitale of Provo, UT and Louise (Leonard) Jones of Monticello, UT, daughters Denette Chavira of Monticello, Christina Zatkalik of Kirtland, NM, Stephanie Cecil of Monticello, Dawn (Corey) Johnson of Monticello, Beth (Curtis) Wilcox of LaSal, UT, Leesa (Steve) Harris of Cortez, CO, 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his mother Beth A Christensen, father Don F Christensen, son Jon Christensen, twin brothers Brent and Brian, sister Carol Zatkalik, brother-in-law Dennis Vitale, son-in-law Jim McDonald, and great-grandson Isaac Wilcox. 
The family would like to thank the staff of San Juan Hospital for their care and compassion for Rex and family during the difficult last hours.
Bishop James Muhlestein, Brian Bowring, and the Monticello 3rd Ward for the use of the Stake Center and the family luncheon that was provided, Gary Halls and Tom Correo for performing the service and the grave side, Cade Lewis, Scott Jenkins, Sabino Lopez, and Tony Chavira for removing snow for family parking, and Allen Frost and Scott Frost for your continued support for our family.
We would also like to thank everybody who stopped by to visit and all who brought food, flowers, and cards.

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