Ethelyn Lorraine Dalen, 94

Ethelyn Lorraine Dalen, 94, of Whitefish, passed away on Saturday morning Dec. 12, 2015, at The Springs in Whitefish with family at her side.

She was born Sept. 3, 1921, in Whitewater, Montana, to Gust and Luella (Reitan) Torgerson.

She attended school in Whitewater, Saco, Glascow and graduated from high school in Malta.

She moved to Whitefish on her 20th birthday in 1941 to work for Art LaBrie as a waitress. It was not long before she met “the love of her life,” Bud Dalen. They were married Aug. 10, 1942. Ten days later Bud left to serve in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Europe during World War II for three and a half long years.

Ethelyn owned a ceramic business in Whitefish for more than 30 years where she enjoyed teaching ceramics and was an avid and talented china painter. She enjoyed the social aspect of running her business and was blessed with many friendships that always included brush strokes, coffee and lots of laughter. She was a part-time cook, dishwasher, cleaning service, nurse, counselor, maid, accountant, taxi driver, cheerleader, banker, teacher, pharmacist, lawyer and a preacher, to name a few. And a great mom! Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the highlight of her life and they were a tremendous blessing to her even through the last week on this earth.

Her laughter was a joy to all who knew her and her sense of humor was a gift. She once hosted a dinner party for family and friends but you had to have dentures to attend and all dentures were taken out at the door. She had several games planned, one of which was chewing gum. You can imagine the hilarity!  

She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish. Her faith sustained her throughout her life and gave her great comfort in her last moments. The joy of the Lord was her strength!

Ethelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Bud; a son, Buz Dalen; a brother, Glen Torgerson; and brother and sister-in-law, Vernon and Irma Torgerson.

She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Annette Dalen, of Whitefish; grandchildren, Janelle Johnson and husband Paul of Great Falls, Jennifer Retz and husband Erik of Whitefish, Jeff Dalen and wife Jenny of Whitefish, and Jim Dalen of Whitefish; and 11 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Lois Torgerson of Spokane, and Arlene Field and husband Ken of Kalispell; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services for Ethelyn will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish with Pastor John Bent officiating. Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20, at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell. Burial will be at the Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.

The family would like to thank the pastoral Staff at Christ Lutheran Church for ministering to Ethelyn and to her family and to the caring staff at The Springs and Frontier Hospice.

Ethelyn’s favorite charity was A Ray of Hope, P.O. Box 5407, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the Dalen family.