Merle was born in Brigham City, Utah on Sept. 20, 1923 to James Archilious Christensen and Sarah Eliza Fletcher. She was the 4th child to be born to her parents.
The oldest child was Edith, the next child was Janet and just older than Merle was her brother James (whom they called Jimmy). Merle is shown here in a small chair in front of her siblings.
When Merle was 2 years old her sister Beth was born and then one month later her brother Jimmy died after having his appendices burst. This was while they were living in Perry, Utah.
