The memorial service for A.J. "Tuffy" and Dorothy Christman, both age 78, of Lemmon, will be at 7:00pm MT on Thursday evening, June 8, at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon with Pastor Ken Miller, officiating.


Burial for A.J. will be 2:00pm CT Friday, June 9, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan with Fr Albert Leary officiating and full military honors will be afforded by the Mandan VFW.


A memorial has been established.


ADMIRAL JOHN (A.J., "Tuffy") CHRISTMAN was born July 25, 1927 in Lemmon, S.D. to John and Katie (Kessler) Christman. Growing up with 11 brothers and sisters, he managed the family farm during high school when his father became ill. On November 29, 1952, A.J. married Dorothy Byrne, who precedes him in death by just one week. A.J. joined the U.S. Navy after his dad re-gained his strength and returned to the Lemmon area in 1957. He eventually took over full operation of the farm upon his father's passing. While running the farm, he concurrently worked at Case IH and Phillips 66.


A.J. and Dorothy raised three children, John, Andrea (Ann) and James (Jim). John was born in Hutchinson, Kan., while A.J. was serving in the Navy, Ann was born in Dorothy's hometown of Bowman and Jim was born in Lemmon. A.J. began a distinguished career with State Farm Insurance in 1963, establishing his own agency in Lemmon. Opportunity dictated a move to Minot, N.D. in 1967 where he eventually was promoted to regional manager. In 1975, the family relocated to Williston, N.D. where he retired from State Farm in 1995 after a 32-year career. In 1999 A.J. moved his ailing wife to Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon where she resided until her death, passing away May 26. Her remains were buried June 2. He attended her service at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery in Mandan, N.D., returned home to Lemmon and joined her in the afterlife less than 24 hours later, passing June 3.


A.J. and Dorothy will stay forever in our hearts and be greatly missed by their children, John and Erina Christman, Milan, Italy; Andrea and Richard (Rick) Cantone, Minot, N.D.; James and Lissa Christman, River Forest, Il.; seven grandchildren, Lucas, Stefan, Paul (Melissa), Chad (Elizabeth), Chase, Tricia and Tessa; two great grandchildren, Kaden and Bailey.


A.J. is survived by one brother, Herbert (Herb) Christman, Moorhead, Minn., three sisters, Esther Ploog, Inez "Tootie" (John) Larson, all of Lemmon and Irene Smith, Wakefield, R.I.

Preceding him in death are his parents, two brothers, Edward and Lester Christman; five sisters, Alma Willett, Ida Klinkhammer, Elsie Otsea, Martha Grabinski and Louise Graybeal.