Nels Christiansen Scholarship

Nels “Chris” Christiansen was born in Red Lodge, Montana, where he attended Carbon County High School and played basketball for the Coyotes. “Buster,” as he was known by those in Red Lodge, set many records playing for CCHS, but the most important part of his high school experiences was meeting the love of his life, Katie. Two years after meeting, they were married in Columbus, Montana. Chris received a full scholarship to Chadron State Teachers College in Nebraska. At Chadron, he set many NAIA and college records, some of which stood until recently. Upon graduating from Chadron, Chris and his family moved to Minatare, Nebraska, where he remained for four years coaching basketball, baseball, and track. Montana called him home in 1957 when he took a teaching job in Harlowton. His family of four became five while living in Harlowton. In 1958 Chris started working on his Master’s degree at Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) and was hired as a graduate assistant by Shorty Alterowitz, which began his 38-year relationship with the college. Chris was hired as a teacher in 1960. In his tenure at EMC, he was both a teacher and assistant coach for football and basketball and a head coach for track and field. He touched many lives in the classroom, on the field, and on the court. Many of these people attended the unveiling of his bust in 2007. Chris also was a referee for both football and basketball and started many track meets throughout the state. He was inducted in the Montana Officials Associations Hall of Fame and retired after being a referee for six decades. Chris was also inducted into the EMC Hall of Fame, the Chadron State College Hall of Fame, and the Montana State Men’s Golf Association. In 1983, Chris and Katie started the Junior Golf program with a handful of players and four golf courses. As of 2014, the program has over 200 players and plays at all nine county golf courses. The program became his focus after he retired from MSU Billings in 1994. Chris received many accolades in his life, but none were as important to him as his family. This included his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, but also his family of friends and athletes. He treasured them all. In memory of Chris and his passion for athletics, especially golf, his family established the Nels Christiansen Scholarship. The first scholarship was awarded in academic year 2016-2017.