Leslie "Lisa" Christopher

Leslie Louise Clark—better known to all as Lisa—was born March 31st, 1954, to George H. Clark and Ruth (Ellis) Clark in Pasadena, California.

From the very beginning, Lisa’s name carried a story. Her brother Chris, at 2 ½, couldn’t say his “L’s”. Their parents took pity on him and began calling her Lisa (“Yisa” for Chris) before they had even left the hospital.

Lisa was raised in a tight-knit, loving Christian family filled with warmth, joy, and deep faith. She credited her father’s listening ear and thoughtful insights as instrumental in shaping her spiritual life.

Some of her fondest childhood memories included family camping trips—exploring, fishing, canoeing, hiking, singing in the car, and making her dad laugh so hard he had to be put to bed. She especially cherished evenings around the campfire, listening to her father’s “Well, Sir” stories, each beginning with his signature phrase: “Well, sir…”

As a child, Lisa fell in love with Shirley Temple movies, sparking a lifelong desire to learn tap dancing—a dream that would take many years to fulfill.

In high school, Lisa focused on creative writing and art. Her senior year marked her first foray into drama, landing a role that gave a boost of confidence and ignited her passion for performance.

Around this time, she met Jim Christopher, a smiley, handsome Air Force lieutenant from Kansas, at church, and was swept off her feet, leading to a combined high school graduation and engagement party.

They married on May 5th, 1973, and lived in California through the remainder of Jim’s military service. Their first child, April Marie Christopher, was born in 1974. When Jim went on inactive reserve in 1976, they moved to Kansas to begin taking over the family farm.

At that point, Lisa’s only associations with Kansas were the dismal black and white landscapes depicted in The Wizard of Oz. When asked how Jim convinced her to leave California, she replied, “I had so many hearts in my eyes I would have followed him anywhere.”

That same year, they had their second child, Aaron James Christopher. And four years after that, they had “one more just for fun”, Adam Ross Christopher.

Lisa inspired self-expression, imagination, and wonder in her children. She played with them daily and lamented the arrival of the school bus—her “big yellow monster”—that took her playmates away. She was instrumental in instilling in them a deep appreciation for silliness through her own offbeat sense of humor, as well as classics such as Stan Freberg’s "United States of America" and the parody music of Spike Jones.

Amidst raising three young children, Lisa became involved in Lindsborg’s community theater program, Broadway RFD. It was there, in rural Kansas of all places, that she finally fulfilled her lifelong dream to learn how to tap dance. She performed in numerous productions, taking on both leading and supporting roles. She also became an avid Shirley Temple impersonator and was known as Miss Enthusiasm at annual Covenant Women’s retreats, serving as a comedic icebreaker for speakers.

Lisa later served as the assistant director and then director of theater at Smoky Valley High School for 25 years, building lasting bonds with many of the students. Additionally, she directed several Broadway RFD productions, inspiring and deepening a love of theater in countless others.

Together, Lisa and Jim served as church youth leaders for various age groups, with a special fondness for high schoolers. They continued sponsoring their church’s high school youth group long after their own children had graduated. A highlight of this ministry was the annual ski trips to Colorado—adventures brimming with laughter and lifelong memories.

In 1991, in addition to being a member of the Lindsborg Swedish Folkdanslag with Jim, Lisa became the dance director of the Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers, a role she would continue for twenty years. She traveled with the group on their annual cross-country trips and to Sweden every four years, trips she treasured deeply for the opportunity to see places she might never have otherwise visited.

In her later years, Lisa developed a passion for genealogy, meticulously mapping her and Jim’s family ancestry. She became an avid scrapbooker and hosted scrapbooking parties with dear friends several times a year. She also gifted her time to TACOL thrift store, where she quickly built strong friendships with the other volunteers.

Throughout her life, right up to the very end, Lisa exuded a joy and exuberance to all around her, including family, friends, acquaintances, and total strangers, fueled by her unwavering faith in the love of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In her final days, Lisa expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love, care, support, and mountains of food from so many across her community. She reflected: “You just don’t realize the impact your life has had on others' lives. You don’t realize how many friends you’ve made in your life until they are all coming at once, wanting to see you, wanting to do whatever they can. It is a profound blessing.”

Lisa is preceded in death by her mother, Ruth, and father, George. She is survived by her brother, Chris; her husband, Jim; her children, April, Aaron, and Adam; and her grandchildren, Ariel, Anders, Annika, and Yma.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Lindsborg Covenant Church. The memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, September 20, at the Lindsborg Covenant Church with Rev. Jeff Waugh officiating. A private graveside service will be at Elmwood Cemetery, Lindsborg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be given to Lindsborg Covenant Church in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.