Dee Virile Christensen

Father, grandfather, brother, avid temple worker, COVID survivor, jokester, dairy farmer. These words describe the man we have cried with, laughed with, sometimes fought with, but most of all loved.

After several times where he was nearly called back to his heavenly home, Dee Virile Christensen passed away on April 6, 2025, doing what he loved. Just moments after joking with his daughter-in-law, Nicole, at the barn window, Dad turned to help his son, Mike, bring a stray cow back to the herd, not knowing it would be the last time.

Dee Virile was born in his maternal grandmother’s Preston, Idaho home on September 3, 1940. He grew up in Mink Creek, the second of eight children born to Allen and Pearl Christensen. It was here that his passion for dairy farming began. Dee attended Mink Creek Elementary School. After graduating from elementary school (eighth grade), he attended Preston High School and graduated from high school and LDS seminary in 1958.

In 1960, Dee Virile was called on an LDS mission to Oslo, Norway, and served there valiantly for two and a half years. In accordance with mission policy back then, he and his companion were able to tour Europe on their return trip home.

After Dee’s mission, he attended Utah State University for two semesters, majoring in dairy science. In 1965, he had the opportunity to work on a dairy farm in Hamilton, Montana. It was here that he met his wife, Elizabeth. After a short courtship, they were married on September 24, 1965, in the Logan Temple. They were blessed with ten children.

In December 1977, Dee Virile and Elizabeth bought property in Dayton, Idaho, where he was finally able to own his own milking barn and land for their cows. Dee also worked at Agrium in Soda Springs for 29 years. After retiring from that job, he ran for Dayton City Council and then ran for Mayor, serving for six years from 2007 to 2013.

Dee Virile was a valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a scout leader, in the library, and in other callings. The temple was important to him, and he served to the end as a temple worker in the Logan LDS Temple.

Dee Virile is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Dayton), children: Sheri (Dave) Emerine (Payson, UT), Tim (Brenda) Clifton, ID; Sam (RaNae), Dayton; Karen (Hugh) Roberts, Idaho Falls; Anna (Doug) Anderson, Lakeville, MN: Mike (Nicole), Preston; Geneva (Ryan) Reese, Wilsonville, OR; Becky (Randall) Sorensen, Preston; Joseph, Dayton; siblings: Verneal Lowry, Tooele, UT; Clarice (Jim) Feichko, Farmington, UT., Clare (Linda), Mink Creek; Dorothy (Larry) Sheard; Lone Tree, CO; Royce (Lorraine), Mink Creek; 30 grandchildren, and 8 (almost 9) great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Donald and Varsell, daughter Anna Lisa, and grandsons, Curtis Schneider and Caleb Murphy. Services will be held at the Dayton LDS Chapel on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 11:00 am. A public viewing will be held at Red Rose Funeral Home, 56 S State Street, Preston, on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 6 to 8 pm, and again at the Dayton church on Saturday from 10 to 10:45. For those unable to attend in person may view the live feed by following this link CLICK HERE

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