Christa Helena Auktor Kendall passed away peacefully in Preston, Idaho on November 19, 2025. Christa was born in Stuttgart, Germany on July 4, 1935. Her mother was Helena Elizebeth Kubler who married Karl Auktor. Karl later adopted Christa as his own child. A few years later her parents had a sister for her, Ute Auktor Augat.

Christa grew up in WWII Germany with many memories of air raid sirens and rushing to the basement for safety. Food was scarce and life was hard. Even though she was young, she had vivid memories of those years and suffered nightmares of sirens going off for years.

When she was 18 years old she met an American soldier, Robert Lawrence Kendall, and it was love at first sight. They were married right after her 19th birthday on July 24, 1954. Germany required couples to be married in the town hall, before they could be married in the church. After being married three times, in the town hall, in the church and then being sealed in the Idaho Falls temple, they were truly united for eternity. They celebrated their 71 anniversary just months before Robert’s passing only two and a half months ago.

Robert brought Christa back to the United States when his service duties were completed. Christa learned English by watching television and was an avid TV enthusiast for the rest of her life. Anything she put her mind to, she stuck to and excelled. She taught herself reading and writing while they lived in Provo Utah where Robert finished his education.

Christa had many different occupations throughout her life. Including: waiting on tables in a cafe, working in a German delicatessen, working at ZCMI for many years and as a dental assistant. She loved to cook and bake and many delicious treats left her kitchen bound for friends and neighbors. Her greatest joy was making others happy by feeding them goodies. She also had a marvelous sense of humor and robust laughter!

They lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Wasco, California; Salt Lake City and Sandy Utah. They are the parents of three daughters and one son. They have 17 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her sister Ute Augat, Her children Delina K Durtschi (Jay W Durtschi), Christine Hansen, Kay Lynn Larsen (Russell Larsen), and Robert Moroni Kendall (Marci Kendall)

Funeral services will be conducted at 12:30 PM Saturday November 22, 2025 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapel located at 1265 East 11000 South, Sandy, Utah. There will be a viewing from 11:00 AM to 12:15 at the church prior to the services. Interment at 3:00 PM at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park  For those unable to attend the services in person, there will be a live stream of the services 

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