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Julia Marie (Christianson) Jones, age 80, of Longville, MN, passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2023 following a short illness. Julia was born on November 3, 1942, in Rochester, MN, to Claude and Doris Christianson, and grew up in Medford, Minnesota, graduating from Medford High School in 1960.

Following graduation, Julia worked at several offices before she married Dan Jones in 1970. After marriage, she and Dan lived in Durango, Colorado and Flagstaff, Arizona for Dan’s work as a forestry executive. They returned to Minnesota in the late 80s and lived in Walker before settling in Longville. After Dan passed away in 1991, she remained in the area and pursued a wide variety of activities.

 Julia was a very gifted artist, whose best known works were painted on birch bark. She was also a skilled framer of paintings, whose work was always in demand until she retired from that aspect of the arts. In addition to her art, Julia was a talented pianist who played at churches in Walker, as well as Salem Lutheran in Longville and the Longville Community Church, where she also served as a Deacon.

Those who had the privilege of knowing Julia will tell you that she was one of the most unique persons in the history of humanity. She was a force to remember, always a light of joy and love. Laughter was her gift to all who met her. She could be blunt in her speech, yet much of what she did and said was couched in a sense of humor that can only be described as wacky. She truly was one-of-a-kind, and will be tremendously missed. Her joy will leave Longville, and all who knew her, much emptier for that loss.

 Julia was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, as well as special friends Tom Strandsness and Gary Coe, who passed away exactly one month before her. She is survived by her brother Paul (Karol) of Bradenton, Florida.

A service of celebration for Julia and Gary will be held at noon on Tuesday, May 2 at the Longville Community Church with Pastor Duane Brown, who adored her wackiness, officiating. Arrangements by

Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service of Walker & Hackensack.

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