Mary Christoffersen

Mary Helen Christoffersen

Mary Helen Christoffersen, age 95, passed away peacefully in Lakewood, Colorado on October 13, 2026.

Mary was born in Powell, Wyoming on November 2, 1930 to Alice (Caldwell) Young and Ross Robert Young, and was the middle child of three (older brother Robert Allen and younger sister Margaret Ann).

Raised in Cody, Wyoming, Mary graduated from Cody High School in 1948, and received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming in 1952.

While at the University of Wyoming, Mary met her future husband of 73 years, Kenneth L. Christoffersen (Kenny). The couple were married on December 27, 1952 in Cody, Wyoming.

Early in their marriage, Mary taught 5th grade in Powell, Wyoming while Kenny worked as a pharmacist at Cody Drug. Mary also served as a substitute teacher for rural schools in the Cody, Wyoming area.

In 1954, the couple moved to Gordon, Nebraska, where Kenny purchased an ownership interest in Stockman’s Drug. There they welcomed to the world three children, Ken in 1955, Julia in 1958, and Steven in 1961.

Mary was very active in their growing children’s lives, such as serving as a Cub Scout Den Mother, Camp Fire Girls Leader and Sunday school teacher. She was a very devoted and loving mother. Her children remember the hours she spent reading to them at night, helping with homework (except math, that was Kenny’s strong suit), supporting their extracurricular activities, and making their favorite foods (usually desserts).

Mary was an active member in the Gordon United Methodist Church for many years, serving as a Sunday school teacher and on numerous committees. She also volunteered for many years with Head Start and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). She was a long-time member of Chapter BZ of P.E.O. She also served as a substitute teacher for the Gordon public schools for several years.

In the mid-1980s, Mary was instrumental in raising funds to build a new city library in Gordon, and became the first Director of the Gordon City Library in 1987. That same year, she organized the first Summer Reading Program for the new library. One of Mary’s greatest joys was reading to children at the Gordon library. Despite her sweet disposition, those who refused to return overdue library books learned she was not to be trifled with. At least twice she sent the Sheriff out to retrieve overdue books from delinquent borrower’s homes.

After retiring as Library Director in 1995, Mary joined the Willow Tree Board as Chair of the Willow Tree Festival Children’s Stage, and planned and organized the entertainment for the Children’s Stage for the next eleven years. Mary also served as Grant Writer for the Willow Tree Board for several years.

Kenny and Mary remained in Gordon for 58 years, moving to Golden, Colorado in 2012 to be closer to family.

Mary was extraordinarily warm and kind, and her smile radiated that kindness. Her family could not recall a single time that Mary gossiped or spoke ill of others. She chose to see the good in other people and believed that the failings or faults of others shouldn’t be judged unless we could see the world from

their eyes. Along with a deep sense of empathy, Mary carried with her an inner light that showed through and could be felt by the countless people whose lives she touched. She will be very deeply missed.

Mary is survived by her husband Kenneth Christoffersen; children Ken (Jane) Christoffersen, Julia Christoffersen, and Steven (Laura) Christoffersen; grandchildren Lee (Eoin) Helmsen, Jack (Marta) Christoffersen, Skye Stinson (Haley Melvin), Erik Christoffersen, Maria Christoffersen, Luke Christoffersen, Amanda (Adam) Schellpeper, Nicholas Welch, and Kurtis Welch; and great grandchildren Caleb Christoffersen, Gracie Stinson, Jayda Yager and Nellie Schellpeper.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Alice (Franklin) and Ross Young, her stepfather Vince Franklin, brother Robert Allen Young, and son-in-law Ron Welch.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Gordon United Methodist Church in Gordon, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the City of Gordon, Nebraska (with a note that the donation is for the Gordon City Library), P.O. Box 310, Gordon, NE 69343; or to the Gordon United Methodist Church, 211 W Second St, Gordon, NE 69343.