Orville R. Dahlen, age 86, longtime resident of rural Dahlen, ND, died Tuesday, January 18 , 2011 at the Aneta Parkview Health Center in Aneta, ND.

Orville Rudolph Dahlen was born May 26, 1924 on the original Dahlen family homestead near Dahlen, he was the son of Elvin and Olga (Christianson) Dahlen.  He attended school in Dahlen and graduated from high school in 1943.  He then helped on his grandparent's farm.  Orville was drafted into the U.S. Army on April 30, 1945 and was honorably discharged on December 12, 1946.  He worked for a short time in Idaho, constructing hydro dams.  He then returned to the family homestead to farm.  Orville married Lenora Bakken on June 8, 1953 at Michigan, ND.  They farmed their entire life together and raised their family on the family farmstead.  In 2003 they moved to Michigan, ND.  Throughout his life, Orville enjoyed wood working and lapidary work of turning stones into beautiful pieces of jewelry and clocks.  He helped to build many homes and pole barns in the area, and more recently, loved to volunteer at the Stump Lake Pioneer Village.  Orville liked to stay active.  He enjoyed golfing, bowling, fast pitch softball, square dancing, and dancing the polka.  He was a member of the Dahlen Lutheran Church and served on the church council, he served on the elevator and township boards, and also was a 4-H Leader.

Orville will be deeply missed by his wife, Lenora of Michigan, ND; 3 sons, Dale (Connie) of East Grand Forks, MN, Wayne (Sheila Gemar) of Spicer, MN, and Loren (fiancée Tammy Gaetz) of Grand Forks, ND; 10 grandchildren, Jody, Mitchell, Craig, Matt, Hillary, Derek, Nick, Jim, Stephen, and Laura; 6 great-grandchildren, Alexis, Kinsley, Shelby, Bryn, Ethan, and Audi; his sister, Sylvia (Dick) Daws of Michigan, ND; and 2 step-sisters, Claire Erickson of Zimmerman, MN, and Fran Devereaux of Bloomington, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Ida Dahlen; an infant son, Chad; and a granddaughter, Amber.

Orville's Funeral Service will be held at the Dahlen Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.   Officiating will be the Reverend Gary Knabe. The organist will be Dee Ann Ellingson and the vocalists will be Terry Ellingson and Lori Ternquist. Interment will be in the spring at the Middle Forest River Cemetery.  The casketbearers will be Orville's grandchildren. Military Honors will be accorded by the John Larson American Legion Post #247 of Petersburg. Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota on Friday, beginning at 2:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.   Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service.