Norma Orline Lyseng Dahlen

Norma Orline Dalen Obituary

With sadness in our hearts, but a lifetime of love and memories to cherish. The family of
Norma Orline (Lyseng) Dalen announce her peaceful passing on December 20, 2012 at the
Luther Special Care Home, where she was nursed the last three months of her life. Our
beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, had her 90th Birthday with us October
29. She is survived by her children: Deanna, Gerald, Murray (Connie), and Joel (Leslie);
and four grandchildren: Jennifer (Dean) McAllister-McNeill and great- granddaughter
Phoebe, Graham McAllister, Dawn (Mike) Brost, and Codi Dalen; nieces, nephews, extended
family; and many dear friends whom she gathered all along her life's way.

Predeceased by an infant brother Nils and many of her family, husband Harold, and two
dear daughters-in-law, Carol (2006), Heather (2011).

Born October 29, 1922 at home on the family farm near Armena/Camrose, Alberta; only
daughter to Nils and Oline Lyseng, baby sister to brothers Kenneth (Hazel) and Algar (Vera).
Of great joy to her and filled with stories to tell: she grew up midst the large Norwegian
Lutheran families of both parents, the Lysengs and Broens, in the farm community where
her grandparents and parents had settled and pioneered; attended boarding school at
Camrose Lutheran College, completing Grade 12; trained and skilled as a secretary/book-
keeper, worked at C.L.C., C.L.B.I., and the Royal Bank.

In 1946 she moved to Saskatoon to take the position as Financial Secretary for the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Canada. Here she met and married the love of her life, Harold Dalen
(December 6, 1947). They made their home at Valley Park where together they farmed and raised
their family; were both always active members and volunteers in their church, farm and city com-
munities, and later during retirement in Kelowna, B.C. and Desert Hot Springs, California.

They enjoyed 37 years of marriage when Harold suddenly predeceased her in 1984; she dearly
grieved his loss ever since, but went on alone to continue the path they had begun as a couple.

The way she lived her life is the legacy she gave us: that she was steadfast and committed to her
family; to her personal relationship and belief in a loving God; to service and volunteering in her
church, work of the Lutheran women, Luther Special Care Home, and city organizations such as
the WDM and Orpheus 60 choir (to name a few).

Until the winter of her 89th year, she was still offering up her voice in choir just as she had all of
her life, played the piano, and with her needlework stitched quilts and knitted garments, many of
which she donated to warm someone in need as well as family and friends. Mom was an artist with
her needle and thread.

She blessed our lives with her gentle spirit, kind heart, and shy grace; her love of nature and family;
her laughter and sense of a good giggle at the funny moments in life; and her living example of love
and gratitude. We felt it was a special and fitting honor for her to be told recently by family historians
that she was the 27th Great-Granddaughter of the first king of Norway, King Olaf, who was later named
Saint Olaf. As was her way she received that news with great humility, a quiet nod and good giggle.

It was Norma's wish to be laid to rest in a private graveside service next to her beloved husband Harold.
Flowers are gratefully declined. TO HONOR HER MEMORY AND SPIRIT, please do a kind deed for
someone today. Memorial donations, should you desire, may be made to Mom's choice of charities:
the Luther Special Care Home (1212 Osler St.,Saskatoon); Cancer Society; MS Society.

We extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of Mom's nurses (indeed, you carried the light
in your lamps for her), caregivers, chaplains, social work and staff at Luther Special Care Home; her
very special Palliative Care Team (most especially Dr. Gimon, Shelley Jolly, and Chaplain Klassen.);
the TCU at City Hospital; staff of Luther Tower; Dr.Klym, Dr.Martens; CPAS and HomeCare. You
were among the angels on her journey.

https://thestarphoenix.remembering.ca/obituary/norma-dalen-1065310456