Olive Jevoila Dalen

Olive JeVoila Dalen was born at home near Appleton, Minnesota on November 6, 1921, the daughter of Alvin and Mabel (Lea) Olson.  She was baptized and confirmed at Kviteseid Lutheran Church in Milan.  Olive continued to live her life in the Milan area and graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1939.

Olive taught in several area country schools as well as schools in Watson and Milan after attending teacher training in Montevideo, Minnesota.  She continued her education by attending night classes and summer school graduating with her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1967.

On October 23, 1949, Olive was united in marriage to Leland Dalen at Kviteseid Lutheran Church.  This union was blessed with two children and 59 years together.  They lived in the Milan area and moved to Apple Ridge Estates in Appleton, Minnesota shortly before Leland’s passing in 2008.  Olive moved to the Appleton Nursing Home in October of 2016.

In addition to her 30 years of elementary school teaching, Olive was very active in her church.  She taught Sunday School for many years and was involved with ALCW, circle, and council.  Olive also enjoyed playing bridge, reading, gardening, cooking, baking, sewing, biking, and walking with Leland.  She loved spending time with family and in her younger years was a loving caregiver to her parents, in-laws, and several aunts and uncles in the Milan area.

Olive passed away on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at the Appleton Area Nursing Home.  She attained 96 years of age.  She is survived by her children: Larry (Sheila) Dalen of Eden Prairie and Linda (Mark) Stromswold of Appleton; grandchildren: Meagan (Matt) Retterath, Paul Dalen, Katie (Ryan) Anderson, Molly (John) Wellner, Jeff (Amy) Stromswold, and Peter (Susan) Dalen; great-grandchildren: Jackson and Rory Retterath, Oliver and Crosby Dalen, Julia and Jonah Wellner, and Olive and Frankie Anderson; sister-in-law, Carol Nelson of Morris; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Olive was preceded in death by her husband, Leland, in 2008; parents, Alvin and Mabel Olson; sisters, Adeline Strand and Ruth Stimson; brothers-in-law: Verdie Aamot, Ray Strand, Fred Stimson, John Boon, Max Nelson, and Ernie Dalen; and sister-in-law, Barb Dalen.  Blessed be the memory of Olive Dalen.