Our Staff
Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.
Mel Salmon
Mel grew up in the funeral industry, living in the apartment above the funeral home with his family (Bob and Mabel Salmon) during his high school years. He married his high school sweetheart Jean McNab (Duncan and Jean McNab) in 1970. They have seven children and 32 grandchildren. Jean also earned her funeral directors license. Mel is a graduate of the University of Alberta. After working for Revenue Canada - Taxation for a couple of years, he made a career change in 1977 and began working full-time in the funeral industry with his dad and eventually all his brothers- Cal, Max, Ralph and Barry. He has 47 years and counting in the funeral industry.
Dan Salmon
Dan is a third generation Funeral Director and Embalmer. He follows in the footsteps of his father; Mel, his grandfather; Bob and his four Salmon uncles. Dan grew up in Cardston and has been a resident of Lethbridge for the past 27 years. He has had the privilege of serving many families from all parts of Southern Alberta. His quiet but confident manner makes him great at connecting with families and making sure they are properly taken care of. It is one of his great joys to meet and work with families of all religions to assist them in the difficult time that the funeral service and the loss of a loved one can be. He pays attention to the details because sometimes it is the small things that matter. Being a father to five kids, 'pop' to one granddaughter and husband to Andrea Collins, he knows the importance of family and can relate easily to the needs of individuals. One of his daily blessings is getting to work with dad Mel, his son Ty and his daughter Chelsey. He is a caring director and he loves the city of Lethbridge.
Christie Isaksen
Christie is from a small Danish community in
Northern Ontario. In her young adult
life, she spent years in Calgary and fell in love with Southern Alberta. She is
the proud Mother of three children and chose to return to Ontario when they
were young, so she could raise them with extended family.
As her children
became young adults, Christie returned to Alberta with her family in 2016 to
take the Funeral Service Course through Mount Royal University. Driving through
Lethbridge is all it took to appreciate the coulees and beauty of this
city, so this is where they stayed. In 2018,
she was hired by the Caring Group to complete her studies, and proudly became
part of the Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home team a year later.
Christie is passionate about her work as a Funeral Director
and Embalmer, and recognizes the importance of personalized care with every
family she meets.
Her most recent role in life feels like her greatest, as she
became a grandmother to a precious little girl in 2023.
Tanya Baker
Tanya is a licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer with Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home. As funeral professionals, it is our priority to ask, listen, and learn about a loved one. Then we work with the family to create arrangements that honour the person’s unique personality and provide comfort for the grieving. As a funeral director, Tanya places high value in ensuring every family receives compassionate, gentle care throughout their difficult journey.
Tanya is born and raised in Lethbridge, Alberta. As a young adult, she moved to the Edmonton Area to begin pursuing her passion for the funeral industry and begin her apprenticeship. After graduating from Canadian College of Funeral Service in 2012, she continued her career in Edmonton, committing herself to personal and professional growth, including learning about many specific cultural needs the Edmonton Region demanded of the funeral industry.
In the end of 2019, Tanya took an opportunity to join the Caring Group team and moved to Lethbridge, a place that has always felt like home.
Large or small, a funeral home holds a prominent place in the community it serves, and supportive outreach into that community is an important aspect of a funeral director’s life. Due to this inspirational concept, Tanya began volunteering with various small community Fish and Game Associations in Alberta in 2014, holding positions such as Range and Archery chair, Secretary, and Vice President.
Tanya continues to pursue her passions with the Great Outdoors and local organizations while also seeking a balance in life, focusing on enjoying time with her husband Kevin Chrupka, and their infant daughter, Randi.
Ty Salmon
Ty Salmon is the eldest child of Dan and Andrea Salmon,
grandson to Mel and Jean Salmon and great grandson of the original Salmons; Bob
and Mabel. Ty is months away from graduating as a fourth generation funeral
director and embalmer from the Canadian College of Funeral Service.
Ty has spent his life in Lethbridge and completed his
grade school education through Chinook High School, graduating in the spring of
2019. He spent his years playing many sports including basketball and
volleyball, including one season with the Lethbridge College Kodiaks. He
continues to be active in his community coaching at Winston Churchill High
School helping the JV Boys volleyball team.
Ty has a natural ability to be patient and understanding which will help him to serve the families of Southern Alberta. He is proud to work alongside his dad and grandfather, continuing the Salmon legacy as a funeral professional at Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home.
Chelsey Salmon
Chelsey Salmon is the daughter of Dan, granddaughter of Mel, and a sister of Ty’s. She was born and raised in Lethbridge, Alberta with her parents and four siblings. She has the honour of blessing Dan and Andrea with their first grandchild, Ayla.
The Funeral Home business and especially Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home have always been a part of her life, and in August of 2022, she joined the team as our front desk receptionist. Her organizational skills, patience, and kind heart made her the perfect addition to our Funeral Family and her loving energy is felt by everyone she meets.
In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her daughter in the coulees finding more rocks for their special collection.
Ron Murphy
Ron Murphy graduated from the University of Lethbridge (1966-1970), taught school in the County of Forty Mile, Livingstone Range School District #68, Horizon School Division #67 and Lethbridge School District #51 (24 years). During the summers of 1966-71 Ron was hired by Canada Safeway as a relief journeyman meat cutter. Ron has been married to Karen (Stewart) for 48 years, is the father of 2 daughters and 4 sons and grandfather of 29. Ron has always enjoyed the outdoors in such activities as fishing, hunting, farming and especially the hobby of beekeeping. For many years he was involved with Scouts Canada, taking boys on summer and winter camps. He is pleased to join the staff at Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home.
Larry Nilsson
Larry was born and raised in Lethbridge. He graduated from Brigham Young University and married Ruth Baker. They have lived in Stirling for the past 39 years where they raised four children. They now have 17 grandchildren. They spend a lot of their time visiting family and enjoy travelling.