Lois June Dahlen

Lois June (Bovee) Dahlen, 92, Bismarck, ND, formerly of Dahlen, ND, passed away at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Nov. 24, 2013.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 at Dahlen Lutheran Church, Dahlen, ND with the Rev. Valerie Teppo officiating.

Burial will follow at the Middle Forest River Cemetery, rural Dahlen.


Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at the Bakke Funeral Home, Fordville, ND.

Lois Bovee Dahlen was born on June 18, 1921, in St. Paul, MN to Jesse and Attie (Nelson) Bovee. She was baptized; and later confirmed her Christian faith at St. Stephen’s English Lutheran Church, St. Paul.
Lois graduated from Humboldt High School in St. Paul in 1938. She then attended Globe Business College in St. Paul and did housework for a time, until she was employed at Montgomery Wards as a biller for several years. Then during WWII, she wanted to help the war effort so she took a civil service test and became a War Ordinance Worker. She worked as an aircraft mechanic at Hillfield Airbase, UT, repairing B-24 and B-29 Bombers, and later as a burner at the Oregon Shipyards, using a cutting torch to cut large sheets of steel for new ships. After the war, she was employed at the Oregonian Newspaper Office in Portland, OR.
While living there, she met the love of her life, Marvin Dahlen, and they were united in marriage on Feb. 5, 1948, in St. Paul, MN. They were married for 47 years. The couple lived near Dahlen all their married life where they farmed and raised their three children. Lois was a homemaker and Dad’s bookkeeper, as farming was serious business to her! She was a loving wife, mother, and later on the best grandma and great-grandma too! She loved to bake and cook for her family; some of her specialties were homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, popovers, potato salad, apple crisp, ginger snaps and the list goes on! She also enjoyed gardening, walking, reading, crossword puzzles, poetry (Shakespeare), writing and receiving letters, and always remembered family and friends with a special birthday card! Lois really looked forward to sending Christmas cards to a long list of loved ones each year, too! As an avid reader, she read through the Bible several times, and read many favorite books to her grandchildren, instilling in them the love of reading and learning. She had an amazing memory as well, and enjoyed sharing stories from her “treasure chest” of many memories! She really loved music and singing hymns too, and most of all visiting with family and friends and giving hugs! She was never at a loss for words!
Lois was a member of the Dahlen Lutheran Church and the WELCA women’s group, where she served as Treasurer and Secretary, did quilting, and served food for many occasions. She taught Sunday School for many years and also V.B.S. and LCR. She was a remarkable woman of faith and passed her beliefs along to her family by the way she lived out her faith daily in her actions, words and deeds. She was a great encourager and always looked for the good in everyone! She was active in the community helping with cancer and heart drives, and volunteering at the nursing home, too. She was also a member of the Senior Citizens groups in Dahlen and Michigan.
After Marvin died in 1995, she remained on the farm for a year, and then resided in Michigan and Lakota for many years, and still drove her Astro Van until a few years ago. She moved to Bismarck in July, 2012, and lived with her daughter and son-in-law for a year before moving to the Missouri Slope Care Center. Lois was content living a humble simple life and didn’t want or need material pleasures. Her independence was very important to her, and she always tried to “press on” with patience and perseverance and the “Rosie the Riveter We Can Do It” Spirit! She had a positive attitude of gratitude and was counting her blessings often; saying that we have so much to be thankful for, especially family and good health.
She is survived by her daughter, Joyce (Philip) Foss of Bismarck, ND, 2 sons, Richard Dahlen of Lakota, ND and Lee (Deb) Dahlen of McKinney, TX; 13 grandchildren; Angela (Steve) Bagan, William Foss, Brandon (Pamela) Foss, Justin Foss, Angela Dahlen, Jennifer Dahlen, Kelly (David) Bryant, Kristie (Justin) Shaffley, Nycole (Philip) Morris, Heather (James) Gibson, Martin (Kari) Dahlen, Cheryln Rainbow and Mitchel (Jamie) Canard; 18 great grandchildren; Brady, Alyssa, Cassidy, Livia, Mason, Lily, Zavure, Madasun, Krynnthia, Mackenzie, L’Andra, Cordell, Ryker, August, Raegan, Jackson, Lucas and Grace Marie; sisters; Carley Fronek, Fitchberg, WI, Connie Gotthilf, Medina, MN, brother; Gene (Nancy) Bovee, Andover, MN, sister-in-law; Edith Dahlen, Fargo, ND, and many nieces and nephews.
Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; her granddaughter, Courtney Dahlen; sisters; Murial Bovee, Arlene Nelson, and Bonnie Raymond; brothers; Vernon Bovee and Wayne Bovee and her parents, Jesse and Attie Bovee.
** In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Dahlen Lutheran Church or the Middle Forest River Cemetery Fund.