Frances (Chris) Vivian Switzer, 94, Fort Collins, Colorado and formerly of Minot and Lake Metigoshe, ND, died Wednesday, September 20, 2006 in Fort Collins.

Frances V. Christianson was born July 11, 1912, in Minot to Ellen Marie and Christian Marion Christianson. She was raised on a farm her parents homesteaded south of Minot, and later moved to Minot, where she would graduate from Minot High School and Minot State College. Chris worked as a medical technician before starting her family.   

Chris was united in holy marriage to Erwin Donald (Don) Switzer Mar. 25, 1941, in Minot where they raised their two sons and made their home throughout their 52-year marriage. A beloved second family home was the cabin they built on Lake Metigoshe where they enjoyed almost every summer weekend.

After Don's retirement, in the mid 1970s, they spent part of their winters in Florida and Arizona, and summers at their cabin home at Lake Metigoshe.  Don died on November 10, 1993. Chris moved to Fort Collins in 1995 to be near her son William (Bill) and grandchildren and later her great-grandchildren who fondly called her "big grandma".  She continued to spend summers at her Lake Metigoshe cabin after moving to Fort Collins.  In Minot, Chris was an active member of P.E.O. and a member of First Presbyterian Church. She did volunteer work at the V.A. hospital and Red Cross. Because she loved people and lively conversation she made new friends easily and remained socially active in Fort Collins. Chris also loved North Dakota, bridge, photography, spending time at the lake where she was an avid (and successful) fisherwoman, and visiting with friends and family.

She will be dearly missed by those who shared in her life.  She is survived by: sons Richard D. Switzer, St. Cloud, Minnesota; and William E. (Ellen) Switzer, Fort Collins, Colorado; grandchildren, Kee Switzer and Kyle Switzer, Fort Collins, Colorado, Melody (husband David) Foltz and great-grandchildren: Kayla and Daniel Foltz, all of Windsor, Colorado.

Funeral Service:  Saturday, September 23, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at Bohlender Funeral Chapel, Fort Collins, CO;
Funeral Service:  Saturday, September 30, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Minot, ND;
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot;
Visitation:  Friday, September 29, 2006, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot;
Memorials: Memorials are preferred to First Presbyterian Church of Minot or the charity of the donor’s choice

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