Death of June Rose Christofersen Dahle

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

1916 – 2010

Global Ministries is saddened to learn that June Rose Christofersen Dahle died August 7, 2010, two months after her 94th birthday.

June was born on June 16, 1916, in South Africa, one of five children born to Arthur and Julia Christofersen, who were missionaries appointed for life service among the Zulu people. After graduating from Oberlin College in Ohio with a degree in art, June returned to South Africa to teach at Adams College. There she met and married Eric Dahle, a third-generation Norwegian missionary who also taught at Adams. When the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Mission (ABCFM) turned over control of the school in 1957, June and Eric went to Mt. Selinda in Zimbabwe, where she taught the missionary children. June maintained a most beautiful garden of local plants, mostly aloes. Eric was head of the teacher training section. In 1973, when Eric retired, they moved to Durban, South Africa, and bought an apartment close to the beach front where they could see the boats come and go. Eric did some translating. June volunteered in the botanical gardens and pursued artistic efforts including flower arranging and making stuffed animals. Dr. Howard Christofersen, June’s brother who lives in Indiana, recalls her decorating her correspondence with patterns of beautiful cancelled stamps from many countries and his collecting them.

In 2006 June’s brothers and sisters joined her in South Africa to celebrate her 90^th birthday. During a visit to Inanda Seminary, where her sister Mabel had taught, they were asked their secret to health and longevity. They said that it was good clean living and strong values they were taught by their mother.

June is survived by her children: Karin (Michael) Graham-Jolly, Christopher (Alice) Dahle, and Jennifer (Paul) Smithyman; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Her four sisters and brothers and their families also survive: Beatrice McLaskey; Mabel Christofersen, Howard, and Arthur (Audrey). Eric Dahle died in 1998.

Notes of condolence may be sent to:

Ms. Karin Graham-Jolly, 14 Blackhurst Avenue #5, Musgrave 4001, Durban, South Africa; karinjolly@gmail.com
Ms. Jennifer Smithyman, 8 Sanctuary Road, Queensburgh 4093, Durban, South Africa; pjsmithy@telkomsa.net
Mr. Christopher Dahle, 1401 Linmar Drive NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; chris-dahle@uiowa.edu
Mrs. Beatrice R. McLaskey, P.O. Box 1087, LaConner, WA. 98275
Ms. Mabel Christofersen, Essenwood Residential Home, 246 Essenwood, Durban 4001, South Africa
Dr. Howard R. Christofersen, 300 N Mineral Springs Rd, Porter, IN 46304-9788; christofersen@comcast.net
Rev. Arthur and Mrs. Audrey Christofersen, E10090 Buckhorn Rd, Reedsburg, WI 53959-9628

Memorial contributions may be sent to Global Ministries, 700 Prospect Avenue 7^th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100 or given online at www.globalministries.org. Gifts to Global Ministries may be designated for Mt. Selinda in Zimbabwe, if desired.