Irene Olfred Dalen, longtime resident of Grande Prairie, AB, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 23, 2020, at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, at the age of 96 years. Irene was born on November 4, 1923, in Sexsmith, AB, to Peter and Inga Wold. She spent the first few years of her life in the Tofield area, where her parents worked on several farms, before moving back to the Peace River Country in 1928. When her father, Peter, died in 1940, Irene, as the eldest of five girls, was forced to quit school and pick up a variety of odd jobs to help her mother Inga support the family. Later, Irene worked at the Sexsmith post office, Eaton’s in Edmonton, and Horne and Pitfield and Central Jewellers in Grande Prairie. She also spent a year in Camrose, attending CLBI (Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute). On August 21, 1950, she married Eric Dalen in Sexsmith. Irene and Eric were happily married for fifty-eight years, raising two children and residing in Grande Prairie for the remainder of their lives.

Irene was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, sister in-law, aunt, cousin, godmother, and friend. She was kind, loyal, steadfast, thoughtful, generous, patient (sometimes), and an absolute perfectionist. She loved to travel. She and Eric made two trips to Norway and visited Greece, the Holy Land, Austria, the United States (especially Montana and Hawaii), and many places in Canada, often in the company of Irene’s sister Kay or their close friends, the Nesses and the Haugseths. Irene also took pleasure in simple things: the sliver of a new moon, a spectacular Grande Prairie sunset, the smell of freshly mown hay, the hoar frost on the trees, the first signs of spring, and the promise of a summer rainbow. She enjoyed music, shopping, skating, curling, dancing, and solving crossword puzzles, and relished beating TV game show contestants to the correct answers. The telephone was her lifeline, and it was never too early or too late in the day for a conversation. Baking was one of her favorite pastimes. She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage and garnered high praise for her krumkaker, jernbrød, fattigmann, flatbrød, and especially for her lefse.

Above all, Irene loved people. Family and friends were of the utmost importance to her. In her later years, she frequented Tim Hortons, arriving every day shortly before 3:00 pm, rain or shine, sitting with her sisters at a table seemingly reserved for them, waiting to meet other family members and friends—always eager to catch up on what was happening in their lives. She was very happy to help her youngest sister Bernette celebrate her 80^th birthday in August, 2019. Irene’s sharp wit, sparkling personality, and zest for life were truly infectious. Her beautiful smile and hearty laughter brightened many a room, and she touched the lives of many, many people over the years. Irene made friends easily wherever she went. Ever willing to help anyone in need, she had a gift for offering measured, spot-on advice, both wise and practical, that was always rooted in her spiritual beliefs.

A devout Lutheran, Irene devoted her time, energy, and talents to the church, singing in the choir; teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School; cooking at Bible camp; participating in the church women’s group; planning Thankoffering programs, Christmas concerts, and church suppers; fundraising; and taking on various executive positions. She was also a faithful volunteer at the hospital and the Grande Prairie & District Music Festival. As a charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Irene was thrilled to attend the celebration of the church’s 70^th anniversary in November, 2019, which proved to be her last opportunity to visit and reminisce about the past with friends and acquaintances, old and new, from her church family.

Irene will be sadly missed by her daughter Brenda Dalen and son Bruce (Adene Lucas) Dalen; grandchildren Jennifer (Adam Gordon) Dalen-Gordon and Christopher Dalen; sisters Kathleen Shannon and Bernette Wiens; sister in-law Emma Dalen; dear friends Trina (whom Irene regarded as a second daughter) and Arnie Thompson, Dr. James and Sharron Pope, Ute and Doug Starkey, Judy and Bob Anderson, Kerry Chmilar, and Ann Hall; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, godchildren, and good friends.

Irene was predeceased by her beloved husband Eric; parents Peter and Inga Wold; sisters Elsie Wold and Myrtle Anderson; brothers in-law Joe Shannon, Ed Anderson, Bert Benson, Ruben Wiens, Jens Dalen, Norman Dalen, Kenneth Dalen, and Frank Low; sisters in-law Clara Dalen, Gladys Dalen, and Alice Low; nieces Patricia Gray and Barbara Gilmore; nephew Timothy Dalen; son in-law Christopher Lewis; and many other relatives and friends.

Our family would like to thank Grande Prairie Home Care and the staff and residents of Heritage Lodge for their assistance and kindness, Dr. Pope for many years of expert medical care and friendship, and the nursing staff at the QEII Hospital for their compassionate care of Irene and her family. We also owe a debt of gratitude to Irene’s extended family (especially our aunts Kay and Bernette) and friends for faithfully visiting her during her recent hospital stays.

A Prayer Service will be held on Friday, March 6, 2020, at 7:30 pm, at Oliver’s Funeral Home in Grande Prairie (10005 107 Ave.).

Irene’s Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at 1:00 pm, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grande Prairie (10407 100 St.). Interment to follow at 5:00 pm in the Grande Prairie Cemetery (84^th Ave. & 112^th St.).

Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church (9929 105 Ave., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 1G7) or to a charity of one’s choice.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.oliversfuneralhome.com

• Date : 2020-02-23
• Location : Grande Prairie, Alberta

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