Dorrie Walen | The Journal – Journaltrib

Dorrie Walen

In the early morning hours of October 3, 2020, Dorrie Walen passed away, her body unable to match the strong will that had served her for 97 years.

A memorial service will be held for her in summer 2021, at Skabo Church Cemetery, COVID permitting.

Doris Katherine Larson Walen was born to Conrad and Ruth (Bracken) Larson at home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 28, 1923, second of their four children. They enjoyed growing up in Minneapolis near a large extended family; unfortunately, toward the end of the Great Depression, and before the onset of World War II, the childrens father passed away. Shortly after Dorries December graduation at the top of her class from Central High School, their mother passed away, leaving them orphaned. Rather than be divided among relatives, the siblings agreed to stick together to raise themselves. Dorrie immediately began working to support her younger siblings, and to put herself through college. She worked as a waitress in a downtown cafeteria, until a counselor at Augsburg College told her shed make more money working for the war effort. She spent the next few summers stamping serial numbers into bomb casings at the Honeywell plant in Fridley, MN, one of many Rosie Riveters. After two years at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Dorrie transferred to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, at the encouragement of J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker, her mentor and pastor. She graduated with a BA in English with a minor in Spanish.

Dorrie returned to Minneapolis after graduation and found work as a graphic artist at the grocery chain, National Tea. Her social life centered around Our Saviours Lutheran Church in south Minneapolis, where she was active in Luther League, making life-long friends, and sang in the choir. One day, a handsome, young, blue-eyed Norwegian bachelor farmer with a gorgeous tenor voice joined the choir, not knowing that he had just fulfilled every criterion on Dorries list for a perfect husband. They fell in love, beginning a journey that lasted a lifetime. M. David Walen and Dorrie Larson were married at Our Saviours. After a brief honeymoon, they returned to the farm in northwestern North Dakota where Dave had been born and raised. But, before agreeing to become a farm wife, Dorrie required one thing: an indoor, flushing toilet. It would be needed for all the diapers that were going to be washed! The farm neighbors welcomed the newlyweds with an old-fashioned chivaree. Perched atop a hay-filled wagon, towed by a tractor, they were paraded around the township, followed by horn-honking cars filled with friends announcing and celebrating their marriage.

Being a city girl, Dorrie mastered new skills as a farm wife. She was already a good cook, but she learned to churn butter and bake bread, since the nearest grocery store was 20 miles away, and a run to the grocery store only happened about once a month. Her delicious cookies, cakes, caramel rolls were always available for family and visiting friends, as well as weekly baked bread and buns, excellent for summer sausage sandwiches and toast. They raised cattle for dairy and beef, raised chickens and, for a time, pigs, and since they canned most of their own vegetables and fruits, there was no need to shop in town very often. And, as babies kept showing up about every year and a half, there wasnt much time for such luxuries. For two years, the couple and their growing family lived in the house where Dave was born. In 1952, they built a larger house. The house became Dorries canvas for creativity, artistry, and the dream-come-true for a little girl whose modeling clay furniture creations inspired dreams of being an interior decorator.

Dorries daily chores and occupations didnt prevent her from being involved in her churches, first Skabo near the North Dakota farm, and later Concordia, Crosby, and in womens groups. In addition to teaching Sunday School, she was active in Homemakers, Study Club, and Ladies Aid (later Women of ELCA). Dorrie thoroughly enjoyed the creativity of organizing and decorating for dozens of meetings and luncheons, continuing to host community womens luncheons well into her 80s.

Dorrie was the end of her generation for her family and Daves family. She lived after the deaths of her dearly missed husband, Dave, her parents, her sisters, Gert and Marilyn, brother, Conrad, her parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, her grandchildren, Anders and Janae.

Dorrie and Dave had seven children: Claudia Walen Larson, Beth (Steve) Walen, Miriam Walen (Paul) Sikora, David (Anna) Walen, Noreen (Steve) Thompson, Reid (Julie) Walen, and Annette Walen (Colin Evenson). They were blessed with 25 grandchildren, with two more welcomed as adults. There are, so far, 14 great-grandchildren. Dorrie also leaves numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Dorrie relied on her deep faith throughout her life to celebrate joys, to sustain her in sorrows. Memorials may be made to Skabo Church Cemetery Association. Info may be had by emailing homewalen@gmail.com.

In honor of Dorrie, think of her when you see anything aqua or turquoise, and enjoy eating a piece of dark chocolate.

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Dorrie Walen | The Journal - Journaltrib