Christine Hughes

Christine Hughes, 93, of Cavalier (and lately of Scottsdale, AZ) passed away on June 25, 2022 at the Belmont Village Senior Living home with her daughter Cathy by her side.

Christine Bjornson was born on July 18, 1928, in Cavalier to Matthias and Gwen (Dinusson) Bjornson. She graduated from Cavalier High School in 1946 and attended the University of North Dakota, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She also earned a Master’s degree in Music Education in 1969. Christine was very proud of her Icelandic heritage and composed choral music to Icelandic poetry as her thesis project.

Christine taught music in Lancaster, MN and Manvel, ND before marrying Kenneth Hughes in 1952. They lived in Ishpeming, MI, where their children Matt (1955) and Cathy (1957) were born. In 1961 Christine and her children moved to Hillsboro, ND, where she taught music and 5 th grade for 5 years. In 1966 the vocal music position at Cavalier School opened, and she taught music in all grades until her retirement in 1988. After her retirement she taught private voice and piano for 10 more years. She touched countless
lives in those years and was immensely proud of her students’ success.

Christine was a member of United Lutheran Church, where she directed the choir and played the organ and piano. One of her great joys in school and church was playing to accompany group singing. She also served as music director/pianist for several Cavalier Community Theater productions and was the first director of the Cavalier Camerata Choir, which produced concerts of The Messiah and the 7 Last Words of Christ.

Christine volunteered on the Cavalier Library Board and the Pembina County Historical Society. She was an accomplished seamstress and crafter and belonged to the quilting group at her church. After retirement Christine enjoyed travels to Iceland, Norway, Great Britain, Alaska, and around the United States. One of her greatest joys was visiting with family and friends over meals and coffee.

Christine is survived by her children Matt Hughes, Fargo; and Cathy Hauan (Jim), Scottsdale, AZ; 1 grandson, Andrew, Los Angeles, 2 beloved sisters-in-law, June Bjornson and Gertrude Bjornson of Cavalier, brother-in-law Myron Bill, Escondido, CA, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in
death by her parents, brothers Deane and Robert Bjornson, and sister Pauline Bill.

A memorial service will be held at United Lutheran Church in Cavalier on July 18 at 1:00 p.m.