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NALS Remembers he found a surveying job. They moved to Las Vegas in 1987 for
Leigh Anne’s career in Interior Design. Shortly after, Eric began
Eric Christianson, his 35-year surveying career in Las Vegas. He started at Baugh-
man & Turner in 1987 as a Party Chief before going over to Sum-
mit Engineering in 1988 as a survey technician and survey party
PLS 8895 chief. He stayed with the company through three acquisitions. He
was licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor and Water Rights
Surveyor and since 2011 was the lead survey group manager
Eric Paul Christianson passed away unex- and senior survey project manager for Atkins North America. He
pectedly in Las Vegas on August 31, 2023. served as President of the Nevada Association of Land Survey-
ors and was a member of the National Society of Professional
Eric was born September 24, 1962 in Surveyors. He was well known and very respected in his field. He
Chandler, Arizona to John and Lou Ann was looking forward to retirement so he could spend more time
Christianson. He was their first of four with Leigh Anne and their family in Denver.
children. During John’s career in the Air
Force, Eric lived in North Dakota, Ger- Eric and Leigh Anne had their first daughter, Erica, in Las Ve-
many, Oregon, Texas, Colorado, California, gas in 1989. Their second daughter, Erin, was born in 1992. In
and Alaska. 1989, they bought their current home where Eric loved working
Their times in Germany included many great family adventures on home improvement and landscaping projects, and creating
and memories exploring Europe. Living in California was a time of a perfect living space and backyard oasis. Family and friends
riding bikes, playing ball in the streets, and adventures with his loved spending time with them by the pool and barbecuing. Eric
dad and brother Scott. had a special connection with his youngest brother, Mark, who
made many trips to Vegas where they bonded over their shared
Eric finished his last three years of high school in Alaska where interests in family, music, concerts, and cribbage over beers in
he played varsity basketball at Chugiak High School and repre- the backyard.
sented Alaska in the Arctic Winter Games. He was also busy with
his large group of friends and many family activities including As their girls were growing up, their lives revolved around com-
camping and hiking trips. petitive swimming. Eric and Leigh Anne traveled to all of their
swim meets and were extremely involved in the Sandpipers of
After graduation, Eric attended the Brinker School of Surveying Nevada swim team family, with Eric serving as President for
at the Denver Institute of Technology. He traveled to Denver by many years. They contributed countless volunteer hours over
himself on a military plane, not yet 18, and rented an apartment those years supporting Erica’s and Erin’s swimming careers.
with several high school friends that were also attending. This They all made many close and lifelong friends in this community.
is where he met his best friend and love of his life Leigh Anne,
who stole his heart. He returned to Alaska after completing his Eric was a very skilled racquetball player, playing up to 4 times
training, found a surveying job, and proposed to Leigh Anne over per week. He loved playing and had many close friends in his
a long distance phone call. racquetball community. He loved going to Golden Knights games
and concerts of all music genres. He loved football (especially
Eric’s family left Alaska for Utah in August of 1982, leaving Eric the Denver Broncos), visiting family in Denver and Portland, and
behind to continue surveying. He spoke fondly of his memories going on camping trips with Leigh Anne’s parents.
being dropped by helicopter for a month at a time and surveying
the harsh terrain of the Alaskan wilderness. His love of survey- One of his greatest joys was spending time with his three grand-
ing started there. He made the 3,200-mile drive from Alaska to children, Kai (3), Piper (2), and Kayson (9 months).
Colorado by himself at age 19 that October. Eric is survived by his wife of 40 years, Leigh Anne; mother Lou
Eric and Leigh Anne were married in Littleton, Colorado on De- Ann Christianson; siblings Scott (Amy), Lori Williams (Chris),
cember 19, 1982. Their first home was a small house adjacent to Mark (Shannon); children Erica Green (Zane), Erin Ward (Jeff),
Leigh Anne’s parent’s electrical business where Eric worked until grandchildren Kai Green, Kayson Green; Piper Ward; nieces and
nephews Katarina Hedgepeth Carr (Lawrence), Sierra Christian-
son, Rebecca Christianson, Cooper Christianson, Emily Williams,
Ben Williams, Sutton Christianson, Sloane Christianson, Nikki
Huls (Allan), and Alex Walker (Caitlin). He was preceded in death
by his father John Christianson and Leigh Anne’s parents, Dave
and Norma Hale.
In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Eric
Christianson to the Vascular Birthmark Foundation (http://birth-
mark.org/donate).
A celebration of life for Eric will be held Saturday, October 7,
2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Palm Northwest Mortu-
ary, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131, followed by a
reception from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at
www.palmnorthwest.com for the Christianson family.

The Nevada Traverse Vol.50, No.2, 2023 33