Twila Jean Christiansen

Twila Jean (Folts) Christiansen, age 80 of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on August 14, 2021.

Twila was born on September 30, 1940 in York, Nebraska to George and Evelyn Folts.  She grew up on a farm near Bradshaw, only 2 miles away from her future husband, Lynn.  Their little country school and church were halfway between their homes, where they first met when Lynn was in the 5th grade and she was in 1st grade.  It was a very good rural life.  Twila later went to Bradshaw High School and Nebraska Business Institute of Lincoln, and married Lynn at Harmony Church in August of 1962.  They’ve lived in San Diego, Beatrice, York and Lincoln, where Twila worked at various secretarial jobs, had a home-based cake business, and was a wonderful homemaker.  She and Lynn were married 59 years.

Twila was always active in the United Methodist Church, serving with multiple women’s groups, doing bible studies, teaching Sunday and bible school, organizing events like Festival of Tables and Tasting Teas, playing in handbell choirs, and she enjoyed being a greeter and serving as usher. She volunteered her time and talents with local fund drives and benefits, worked on city elections, enjoyed ushering at Lied Center and helping at Holmes Lake Manor with Bingo.

Twila enjoyed doing crafts, cooking and baking, and was talented with her cake decorating over the years. She spent hours in her many flower gardens.  She also loved vacations and traveling all over the country, especially Sandals resorts and places like Branson, Estes Park, Nashville, the Black Hills, and Hawaii.

More than anything else, Twila loved people. She was very friendly, sociable, and loved to visit with anybody and everybody, anyplace and anywhere, whether she knew them or not!  She especially loved her Red Hat ladies and their adventures, her Bunco buddies, coffee groups, card groups, and neighbors.  Even after moving to Lincoln and making new friends, she continued to drive to York to be with her old ones.  Twila loved living in the Legacy Retirement Community the last 5 years and enjoyed all of their activities and entertainment while making even more friends until the last few months when her weary body couldn’t keep up with her busy social life, and her Alzheimer’s seemed to progress and her health declined.

Of course, Twila was the center of activity with her close-knit family.  She loved being involved in all the kids’ and grandkids’ lives, absolutely enjoyed all of the family birthday and holiday dinners, celebrations, game playing, and get-togethers.  She was a good wife, dedicated mother, welcoming mother-in-law, wonderful “Grammy” and was thrilled that she would soon be called great-grandma.  She will be greatly missed by all, and forever loved.

Twila is survived by her husband, Lynn Christiansen, and their two daughters, Deb Curatola of Leavenworth, KS and Vicki (James) Fairchild of Lincoln; her four grandchildren, Jenny (Jake) Curatola-Wozniak, Katie (Gary) Curatola Burruss, Bailey (Jesse) Schulz and Jackson Fairchild;  her soon-to-be great grandson, “Baby Boy Burruss”; her brother, Robert (Loa) Folts of Waverly; along with many cherished nieces, nephews, family and friends.  Twila was preceded in death by her parents, George and Evelyn Folts, as well as her brother, Duane.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Friday, August 27, at 10:00 AM at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd, Lincoln NE. Memorials can be made to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Cremation arrangements have been made with a private burial at a later date.

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