Raymond J. Christensen

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Christensen, Raymond J. age 84, passed away March 26, 2016. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 47 years, June Naplin Christensen. He is survived by son, John Raymond Christensen, daughter-in-law, Gaye, and grand-daughters, Kelsey and Torina; his companion, Evelyn Torkelson and family; and a number of dear cousins. Raised in Omaha, Ray became fascinated with photography in high school and pursued his interest in the U.S. Navy. After his service, he returned to Omaha and began a career in photography and animation. In 1966 Ray shifted his focus to filmmaking after appearing in an Oscar-nominated documentary, `A Time for Burning.' This powerful film followed a white church's struggle to reach out to its African-American neighbors, and one of its memorable storylines was Ray's growth into a strong advocate for integration. The director, Bill Jersey, became a lifelong friend and filmmaking mentor to Ray. Ray began making documentaries for companies and organizations in Omaha. After moving to Minneapolis, he made a film about the people of Minnesota (the soundtrack for which was composed by singer, John Denver). Ray's passion for telling human stories took him around the world -- to Africa, where tribes worked to preserve their precious water supplies; to East Germany, where he brought to life the historic impact of Martin Luther; and to Bethphage Mission in Nebraska, where developmentally challenged people strove to reach their incredible potential. One of Ray's favorite films, The Wilderness World of Sigurd F. Olson, captured the beauty of northern Minnesota with Olson, the noted author and environmentalist. Ray's films inspired people to see the ordinary in new and unexpected ways. In the 1970s, Ray made a series of safety films hosted by NFL announcer, Pat Summerall. These pioneering films helped people and companies understand that safety does not start with checklists and procedures, but with attitudes and emotions. In the 1980s, Ray teamed with futurist Joel Barker to introduce the business world to an obscure scientific concept called paradigms. These films helped organizations look past their mental boundaries to recognize new opportunities for success. Their first film, `The Business of Paradigms,' became one of the most influential training programs in the world. Ray's legacy is summed up in a belief he shared throughout his life: "Never lose your sense of wonder. Always be curious." His family is holding a private service. Memorials may be sent to: The Listening Point Foundation P.O. Box 180, Ely, MN 55731 listeningpointfoundation.org

Published on April 3, 2016