Chester H. Christensen was born on May 17, 1890, in Rio, Wisconsin. After attending elementary school there and high school in Portage, Wisconsin, he went to DePaul University where he received his law degree. He took additional work in law at the University of Wisconsin.

He first practiced law in Portage but soon moved to Beloit and continued his profession as a lawyer. In 1927 he was elected a judge in the Beloit Municipal Court where he continued until 1949 when he was elected a Rock County judge. He continued in this capacity until his retirement in 1960 at the age of seventy.

Judge Christensen pioneered probational work with juvenile offenders. Between his graduation from law school and entering the practice of law, he served in the US Army during World War I. He was discharged with the rank of lieutenant.

Judge Christensen was one of the truly great pioneers of Boy Scouting in Sinnissippi Council. He was frequently called on to assist with the program of Boy Scouting both in the State Line Council and after 1949 in Indian Trails Council. He was many times called on to speak at courts of honor and other scouting functions.

He assisted with leadership training, camp-o-rees, merit badge shows and circuses. He served on district committees as well as on council committees. He was also a member of the Indian Trails Executive Board for several years. He was awarded the Silver Beaver in 1958 for outstanding service of boyhood.

Judge Christensen was active in both Masonic Lodge work, as well as with Knights of Pythias Lodge. He was a long-time member of Kiwanis, serving the Beloit Club as president in 1926 and the division as Lieutenant Governor in 1943.

He was active in the Lutheran Church all his life. He served as Sunday School teacher and superintendent and was on the advisory board for the synod. After retiring from the bench, he served as a lay preacher for Lutheran churches first in Wisconsin and later for three years in Arizona where he was installed as a full-time pastor.

He married Grace Ledell on June 22, 1918. They had one daughter, Jean. He was particularly proud of his five grandchildren. The two grandsons were both Eagle Scouts and the three granddaughters had been active in the Girl Scout program.

Mrs. Christensen died in 1969. In 1975 the Judge married Cora Evenson Schultz. They lived in Rio, Wisconsin, except for the cold winter months when they frequently migrated to Arizona.

Judge Christensen died in the late winter of 1978 at the age of 87.