Joan Ardell Christen

Joan Ardell Christen, 90, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on September 11, 2025. She was born on March 5, 1935, in Veblen, South Dakota, to the late Palmer and Corine Akre.

Joan met her husband, Arden, in Brookings, SD at a dance and waited 3 years before they married on September 10, 1955, in Veblen, SD. They had four children together, Barbara Brunetti, Penny Sallee, Rebecca Freed, and Sarah Johnson.

Joan was a research associate in the Department of Oral Biology at the Indiana School of Dentistry in Indianapolis. She had extensive experience and expertise as an author and a medical and dental editor.

She earned a Bachelors’ Degree in General Studies from Indiana University in 1984 and an M.S. Education Degree in Marital and Family Therapy from Butler University in 1987. She developed a special interest in the addictive behaviors and took a series of continuing education courses in that field of study.

She and Artie co-authored writings in dental research, tobacco control and cessation and dental history, totaling eight books and monographs and nearly 70 published journal articles.

Above all, she was a mother. She devoted her life to raising her daughters. She was a military wife, which entailed traveling to many countries with her family.

Joan’s Norwegian upbringing shaped her personality. She kept close relationships with everyone in her life.

Joan was an avid reader, reading nonfiction topics on a variety of subjects, depending on whatever piqued her interest. She had a great mind for writing and utilized her extensive vocabulary daily.

Joan loved to bargain hunt at Goodwill; it was her most enjoyable activity, second to spending time with her family.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Barbara Brunetti, Penny (Kenneth) Sallee, and Sarah (Darryl) Johnson; grandchildren, Gianni, Nick, Christen, Christina, Taylor, Artie, Victoria, Aaron, Gerrit, Lara, and Jordan; several great-grandchildren; sister, Muriel Revier of North Dakota; and many other loving relatives and friends.

Joan is preceded in passing by her loving husband, Arden Christen; and her daughter, Rebecca Freed.

Joan’s services are pending. Please check back soon.