Lea Nicole Christainsen

Lea Nicole Christiansen, 25, of Missoula and formerly of Livingston, passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at her home in Missoula. Lea graduated from Park High School as valedictorian in 2009. She went on to study art education at U of M in Missoula where she graduated with high honors in 2014. She then completed her student teaching at the Kodaikanal International School in Tamil Nadu, India. Lea accomplished more in her short 25 years than most of us will in a lifetime. She was a gift to the world with her loving spirit, gentle ways with kids, and art that transformed and inspired. "Lea was a fantastic student in several of my photography classes at the University of Montana. The type of student I wish I could have cloned. Lea was engaged, creative, inquisitive, hardworking, vocal, gentle, and always present. She was also the most trustworthy and hardworking work-study student I have ever employed. I so enjoyed following her adventures in India after she graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Art. Lea was a beautiful soul. Lea, I trust you are in a better place." She was a very humble and loving soul, having tutored a homeless kindergarten student at the Womens Opportunity Resource Development Center in Missoula, which none of her family knew she did until her passing. That was very typical of our Lea. Lea is survived by her parents, Daniel Christiansen of Missoula and Sonya Neal Christiansen of Livingston, and her brother, Luke Christiansen of Livingston; paternal grandparents, Howard and Gail Christiansen of Missoula; maternal grandparents, Ruth and Duane Neal (who passed 23 hours after Lea) of Pray; many aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and an abundance of friends from around the world. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Shift Empowerment Youth Program, P.O. Box 193, Livingston, MT 59047 or shiftempowerment.org; Stafford Animal Shelter, 3 Business Park Road, Livingston, MT 59047; or The Poverello Center, Missoula, MT 1110 W. Broadway Street, Missoula, MT 59802, thepoverellocenter.org. A shared memorial service with her grandpa will be held Tuesday, September 27 at 2:00 at the Paradise Valley Community Church, 1755 E. River Road, Livingston with Reverend Jay Foley as the celebrant. There will also be a memorial service/art exhibit for Lea in the spring. Fly away, sweet bird. We will miss you dearly.