Colette Christopherson

Our most valuable player, Colette Jensen Christopherson, 59, passed away March 16, 2022, after a yearlong battle with cancer. She was born October 20, 1962, to Gloria Rosebud Shurtleff and Sherman Arthur Jensen.

She was happy, fun, down-to-earth, had a great sense of humor, loved people, and loved to tease. She was a talented decorator and event planner. Colette loved the beauty of the outdoors, and sugar with a good chick flick, but nothing beat the allure of a good old sweaty ball game. She never missed a game if she could help it. She was proud that her brothers would let her play tackle football in the yard. As a young girl she would travel with her parents to the State Basketball Tournament every year and watch as many games as she could. This tradition carried on throughout her life. She was the Lyman High School Valedictorian, and excelled in volleyball, basketball, and track for Lyman all four years.

Colette cheered on the Vikings while attending Ricks College, then the Cowboys at University of Wyoming. On August 3, 1984, Colette married her favorite high school football star, Randy Christopherson, in the Salt Lake Temple, after which she was the best “Randy fan” in the world as he played for the Chadron State Nebraska Eagles. In 1987 Colette and Randy graduated from Chadron State on the same day.

She was thrilled to become the mother of three active boys and loved being a part of their lives. Colette was the perfect boy mom. Her sons were active with scouts, school activities, and sports. Colette was the cool mom that was a part of every committee and was well stocked with treats. She knew both college and professional football and basketball players---and their statistics!

Colette was part of many teams through the years, but her favorite was being a part of the Lord’s team. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she learned to dodge temptation, block discouragement, and tackle evil. Colette served several times as Primary President, three or four times as Young Women’s President and twice as Relief Society President. She taught Gospel Doctrine, Primary singing, was always camp director and even did Cub Scouts! Whatever the Lord ask of her she did with flair!

Colette and Randy lived in Chadron NE, Denver CO, Hearne TX, Green River WY, and Morgan UT. In 2007 her dream came true when Randy started his physical therapy practice at home in Lyman, Wyoming.

Those that know Colette know that although she loved sports, she shined at being everyone’s cheerleader. She traveled great distances to support, not only her own children, but her nieces and nephews, her young women, her son’s friends--or anyone she considered part of her team. Colette not only knew everybody in Bridger Valley, but she could tell you who they were related to! Colette saw the best in everybody. If you knew Colette, you were part of her team.

Those left behind are her team starters, husband, Randall Carter Christopherson, Lyman, Wyoming; children, Cody Scott and (Kasha) Christopherson, Provo, Utah, Shad Randall Christopherson, Provo, Utah, and Ryan Carter Christopherson, Lyman, Wyoming; grandchildren, Madilyn Xela, and Russell Thorvald Christopherson; also left behind are brothers and sisters, Bradley and (Karen) Jensen, Springville, Utah, Jeani and (Ernie) Field, Syracuse, Utah, Bruce Jensen, Salt Lake City, Utah, Jolane and (Jeff) Thornock, Fruit Heights, Utah, Brian and (Alysia) Jensen, Lyman, Wyoming and Eagle Mountain, Utah; parents-in-law, Bob and Sandi Christopherson, Farr West, Utah; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jill and (John) Miller, Saint George, Utah, Skip and (Cindy) Christopherson, Pleasant View, Utah, Mark and (Laura) Christopherson, Salt Lake City, Utah, Mike and (Deena) Christopherson, Rexburg, Idaho.

She was preceded in death by her parents Sherman and Gloria Jensen; grandparents, Mary and Wallace Shurtleff, and Leah and Thorvald Jensen, and loved aunts and uncles on both sides.

Though we believe Colette has been traded to a better team, she will always be the best of ours.

Our thanks to Colette’s “football family” and to her Ward family for the service, love and care they have given to Colette and her family, especially during the last year. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16)

Funeral Services: Saturday, March 26, 2022, 11:00 a.m. Viewing 9:00-10:45 a.m. Bridger Valley Stake Center, Urie, Wyoming.