Muriel "Nell" Dahlen

Muriel "Nell" Dahlen, age 98, of Park River and formerly of Forville, ND, passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Society-Park River.

Muriel (Nell) Irene Dahlen, daughter of William and Emma (Paulson) Best, was born on January 1, 1922 in rural Inkster.  She attended grade school at District #66 and graduated from Inkster High School in 1938.  Nell was baptized at Inkster Presbyterian Church and later became a member of First Presbyterian Church in Fordville.  On June 29, 1942, she married Ernest (Bud) Henry. They had two sons, Charles William and Kenneth Wayne.  Bud lost his life in a car accident in January 1955.  Nell married Clarence Dahlen on April 29, 1959 and had lived in Fordville since then.

In 1955, she opened the Fordville Variety Store and worked there with her sister, Helen Jensen, and later with her sister-in-law, Ardis Best, until her retirement on December 31, 1991. Nell was active in the Presbyterian Women’s Association, the Fordville Homemakers, and Bible study. She also taught Sunday school.  Nell was an avid sports fan and enjoyed attending local school sports events, watching Twins baseball, and UND basketball and hockey. She kept busy with many activities: scrapbooking, crossword puzzles, gardening, fishing, hunting, curling, ceramics, crafts, crocheting, and making lefse for family and others. She loved having people stop by to visit and visits from children and grandchildren were especially rewarding.

Nell is preceded in death by her husband, Bud; her husband, Clarence; her parents, and her siblings, Lyle, Emmett, Morris, Helen and Bernice.

She is survived by her sons, Charles (Lorna) Henry, Fordville and Kenneth (Cheryl) Henry, East Grand Forks; her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchild, David (Rachel) Henry, and children Christina and Alyssa, Fargo; Jean (John) Decker, and children Eric and Autumn (Tyler) Hatherly and child, Carter, Tx; Wes (Jennifer) Henry and children, Emily, Tyler, Hailey, and Lindsey, Fargo, Jacob Reed, Az; Lisa (Gregg) Swanson and children, Josh, Noah, and Timmy, Grand Forks; and her brother, Dennis Best, Mt.

A Public Viewing will be from 10:00 until 12:00 on Thursday, December 3rd, at the First Presbyterian Church in Fordville.  Face masks and social distancing are required.

There will be a private family graveside service following at 1:00 at the Oak Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to the Fordville Senior Center or the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Park River.