Noem Orders Capitol Flags at Half-Staff to Honor Former Legislator
PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem has ordered flags at the South Dakota State Capitol to be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. until sunset on Saturday, February 8, 2020, to honor the life of Bernie Christenson, a former state leader and legislator.
Christenson was a dedicated public servant, serving 20 years in the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, where he worked as a special agent, training coordinator, and assistant director. Under Governor Richard F. Kneip, Christenson helped create the South Dakota Retirement System, later serving as chairman of its board of trustees.
Christenson served in the South Dakota State House of Representatives from 1985 to 1987. In 1987, at the request of Governor George S. Mickelson, he resigned from the legislature to serve as the founding executive director of the South Dakota Community Foundation, a role he held until his retirement in 2003.
Christenson also served for years as a part-time state pilot, flying with every governor since Frank Farrar.
A memorial service for Christenson will be held at 10:30 a.m. on February 8 at First United Methodist Church in Pierre.
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One great man.
As I grew up in Pierre, I’ve known Bernie (Mr. Christenson until I was 21) for gun-toting, neck scruffing DCI agent.
If you were up for the whole truth without a scintilla of varnish, you went to see Bernie. By the time I was in my 40’s, I could handle it. When it happened outside the theatre when I was an 8th grader, it scared the crap out of me.
While I really respect and like Bernie, I’m still not sure he liked me or liked anyone cause he treated everyone the same (except Sally who owned him) whether it was in the basketball stands, getting on one of his planes, on the golf course, anywhere, friend or foe. How could you tell? I’m kidding. Kinda. Bernie was a great man. No doubt.