ALFRED CLIFFORD CHRISTOPHER

Alfred Clifford  March 24, 1907 was born in Medina, North Dakota. He was the 2nd child born of 11 children to Inga Lydia (Olsen) and Carl Christopher. His other siblings are: Glenn Arthur, (January 7, 1904; Roy Willard, (Aug 10, 1910); Ruth Lillian,  (Aug 10, 1912); Lauren Ivan and Lester Carl, (Aug 5, 1914) Kenneth Orvin, (Sept 7, 1916); Otto Vernon, (Dec. 19, 1918); Robert Norman (March 29, 1921); Doris Esther, (June 10, 1923); and Donald Edwin, (Sept 10, 1925).

Clifford was never really called Alfred. He was the horseman in the family. He went through the home course of Berry School of Horsemanship.  His brother Ken tells the story about one year that he and his partner came back from the badlands and each rode a horse followed by a pack horse and a bunch of hounds.  His white horse was quite the animal and no one else could ride him  One day he was going to take him out of the barn, but the barn door happen to hit the horse as he went out the door and the horse took off bucking with the saddle on.  He ran right through a fence and broke his leg.  That was a sad day for everyone.  The prize horse had to be shot as there was no way to fix his leg.

Clifford lived in Arlee for a while with his brothers and went back to visit in Medina where he met Florence. He married Florence Catherine Fisher (July 9, 1907-June 27, 1989), on Oct. 7, 1936, Missoula, Montana at the County Court House. They had four children all born in Missoula hospitals, but their home was in Rivelet. Carol Joy (Jan 31, 1939-Aug 5, 2010), James Franklin (June 28, 1940), Ivan Carl (Aug 5, 1941-Nov 7, 2012), Thomas Edward, (May 7, 1944) 

VERNON CHRISTOPHER 1918-1943

Otto Vernon, born December 19, 1918, was the 8^th child born in Medina, North Dakota,   to Inga Lydia (Olsen) and Carl Christopher. His other siblings are: Glenn Arthur,   (January 7, 1904); Alfred Clifford, (March 24, 1907); Roy Willard, (Aug 10, 1910); Ruth Lillian, (Aug 10, 1912); Lauren Ivan and Lester Carl, ( Aug 5, 1914); Kenneth Orvin, (Sept 7, 1916); Robert Norman, (March 29, 1921); Doris Esther, (June 10, 1923); and Donald Edwin, (Sept 10, 1925).

Otto was always known as Vernon O. Christopher. About 1933, he moved with his parents, younger brother Donald, and sister Doris to Pequot Lakes, MN, where he is remembered as helping the Olsen and Erikson relatives on their ranches. His older brothers, Lauren, Lester, Kenneth, and younger brother Robert settled in Arlee, Montana, so the rest of the family moved to Arlee around 1936. He was known as the talented one, the family artist because he could draw like crazy. Also, he was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Vernon began high school in Arlee then moved to Martinez, California with his brothers to work in the shipyards there. He completed high school there. He became a Petroleum Storage Technitian and a welder.  

Later,  on October 5, 1942 he married Genevieve Sylva in Martinez where they lived until Vernon joined the United States Army Air Corps on Oct. 11, 1943. 

After about 6 months there, he was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for training. Only five days after his arrival, on May 2, 1944 he was killed as an out of control army truck crashed into his squadron while they were marching along a military road. He is buried at the National Cemetery in St. Bruno, California. In his short time in the Army,  Private Vernon O. Christopher had already earned recognition as an expert marksman. 

Vernon and his brother Roy are remembered on the Arlee, Montana War Memorial:

ROY WILLARD CHRISTOPHER -PURPLE HEART RECIPIANT

Roy Willard was born August 10, 1910 in Medina, North Dakota  He was the 3rd child of 11 children born to Inga Lydia Olsen and Carl Christopher.  He attended elementary school and High School all. four years there.  His father often wrote about him in the columns of the Peterson Township section of the Medina Citizen Newspaper:

Those who received 100 per cent       .

in spelling last week were:

Nellie Peterson, Frances Todd,
Elof Lundstedt, Malcolm Peter-
son, Caroline Gahl, Anna Gah l
Roy _ ,Christopher and James

Todd.~·           .'             .~ 

____________________________

 :~ Roy Christopher visited over\
in Kidderr county a few days

last week and while gone traded a;

 Remington shotgun for a Hop-' '
Ikins & Allen rifle, and seems to:

I be well pleased with the deal. I 

 Roy Christopher got home

from the Twin Cities On

last Thursday He also visited
in northern Minnesota while

gone, taking in some of the
famous summer resorts, such

as the Breezy Point, Lost Is-
land Lake and No Man's

[Land.___________. __ ~

; Roy Christopher and John
Peterson are employed with the
Bell Telephone Co.

 ________________________________ . __ ~

Roy was a member of the North Dakota National Guard while living in Medina. He worked for the Bell Telephone Company (1929). Roy enjoyed all outdoor activities especially hunting and fishing. He once made the remark that the Army liked farm boys as they were usually sharp shooters. 

Prior to joining the United States Army, Roy moved to California to work in the defense plants, returning to Montana when he was called to active duty. He was assigned to Troop E. 91 st Reconnaissance Squadron. He was a tank mechanic stationed in Italy. He advanced to the office of Staff Sergeant. Roy was killed at Pietranala, Mount Beni, Italy on Feb. 20, 1945 during World War II. 

He is buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno,
California, the same place his brother, Vernon, was buried the previous year. 

The Purple Heart Award was issued to Roy posthumously honoring his sacrifice in defense of his country and was sent along with a letter to his father on April 20, 1945.. The letter read:           "My Dear Mr.Christopher:

The President has requested me in inform you that the Purple Heart 

has been awarded posthumously to your son, Staff Sergeant 

Roy W. Christopher, Cavalry, who sacrificed his life in defense of his

country.The medal, which you will receive shortly, is of slight

intrinsic value, but rich with the tradition for which Americans are 

so gallantly giving their lives. The Father of our country, whose 

profile and coat  of arms adorn the medal, speaks from it across 

the centuries to the men who fight today for the proud freedom he

founded. Nothing the War Department can do or say will in any

sense repair the loss of your loved one. He has gone, however, in

honor and in the goodly company of patriots. Let me, in 

communicating to you the country's deep sympathy, 

also express to you its gratitude for his valor and devotion."

His brother, Ken visited the graves of his two brothers at the 

Golden Gate Cemetery and played his harmonica for them. 

On the map of the cemetery, Ken wrote the following sentiment 

noting the day he visited.

Thanks to Ken and his grandaughter Heather Stiles for sharing

 these articles with us.