Long time Eagle River, Alaska resident, Keith Christenson, passed away Aug. 10, 2014 while enjoying the rugged Alaskan lifestyle. Keith is best known for his love of steam powered railroad, mining equipment and industrial history. He will be missed by many in his passing.

Keith was born in 1942 to Gust and Signe Christenson in Evanston, Ill. He was raised in Park Ridge, Ill., where he developed his interest in steam and antique power from his father, an engineer in the locomotive design industry.

Keith graduated from St. Olaf College. He achieved a Juris Doctorate at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana after dabbling in English and Economics.

After moving to Alaska in 1969, Keith was instrumental in the title project for the right of way of the Trans Alaska Pipeline. Keith handled the right of way projects from Deadhorse to Valdez, Alaska and an alternate route bypassing areas around Fairbanks, Alaska. Later he became a partner in the law firm Johnson, Christenson, Schaumberg, Glass & Link, and later became a sole practitioner in real property law in Anchorage, Alaska. He was a member of the Eagle River Elks Lodge, the Alaska Bar Association, Alaska Live Steam, the Antique Power Club, and the National Railway Historical Society.

Keith is survived by his adult children, Erik, Lisa Doring, Kevin, and Meagan, as well as a large extended family made up of relatives and friends spread across the country, who enjoyed their shared time. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a man generous with his time, a zeal for helping the underdog against larger foe and a kind and attentive friend with a love for all things Alaskan.

Memorial donations can be sent to the Christenson Family in Eagle River, Alaska.