Mrs. Ole Valen, nee Helen Anna Christenson, was born in Lisbon, Illinois, on the 21st day of December, 1875. She was baptized by Rev. P. Rasmussen. When two years of age she, together with her parents, Ole and Gudine Christenson, and family, moved to Hamilton county, Iowa. Two years later, her mother died and she was adopted by relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Knute Phillops, of Story City, Iowa. She attended the public rural school and was confirmed by Rev. N.G. Peterson at Elim's Church in Randall, Iowa. On the 4th day of December, 1894, she was united in marriage to Mr. Ole Valen of Randall, Iowa, Rev. O.P. Swingen officiating. Shortly thereafter, the young couple started farming in the vicinity of Randall. In 1899 they moved to a farm near Graettinger, Palo Alto County, Iowa. They purchased a farm southwest of Clarkfield, Minnesota, and moved there in 1905, retired from farming and moved to Dawson in 1930, came to Clarkfield from Dawson in 1943. On the 4th of December, 1944, they observed their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Mrs. Valen and her husband have been members of the Clarkfield Evangelical Lutheran Church since 1943, and prior to that, members of Israel Lutheran Church and Dawson Riverside Church. She had been a member of Friendship Ladies aid and for many years a member of Israel Ladies Aid. She suffered a stroke July 9, 1952, and had been a patient at the Clarkfield Memorial Hospital since that time, passing away Friday, July 18th, 1952, at the age of 76 years. Left to mourn her loss: husband, Ole Valen; three sons: Orville and Millard of the Clarkfield community and Alfred of Fargo, North Dakota; one daughter, Mable (Mrs. Oscar Davidson) of Sacred Heart, Minnesota; two brothers: Peter and Albert; one sister, Bertha; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Clarkfield Evangelical Lutheran Church, Monday, July 21, 1952, Rev. Clarence Hauge of Dawson officiating, in the absence of the local pastor. Rev. and Mrs. Hauge sang, "No One Ever Cares For Me Like Jesus". Pallbearers were neighbors and friends of the Valens: Olger Holm, Inghart Alness, Harry Sharkey, Oscar Nelson, Robert Benson and Noble Steffenson. Interment was made in the Clarkfield Cemetery. Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota