Jeffrey Wayne Walen

Jeff Walen, 48, of Warren, MN, died on Saturday evening, January 24, 2026, in River Place of Warren, his home for the last ten years while MS deteriorated his body- but did not change his spirit one bit.

Jeffrey Wayne Walen was born on July 7, 1977, in Jamestown, ND, the only child of Wayne and Debra (Tweed) Walen. He grew up in Glenfield, ND, graduating from Midkota High School in 1995. He was very athletic and outgoing, and was a great baseball player (he once struck out 13 straight batters). All through his teen years he played Legion and Babe Ruth leagues, and even once coached a little league team to state with trick plays and his indomitable optimism. And while he was better at baseball than basketball, it was the latter that captured his college years at Mayville State. He was recruited by coach Tim Miles to play on what became a Hall of Fame basketball team. Always quick to make friends, Jeff also remained friends: his teammates were his teammates for life. In these years his sudden lack of coordination, the thing that came most naturally to him, led to an MS diagnosis. In typical Jeff fashion, he didn't let it stop him much. His common refrain, even when later faced with a cane, walker, or wheelchair was, "Well, it could be worse!"
He received his degree in elementary education in 1999, and landed his first job teaching and coaching in Tappen. He began dating a fellow teacher, Angie Bakken, and the two were married in 2002, sharing their son, Cody. A daughter, Serena, followed and the family moved to Minnewauken. He was as active a dad as he could be, enjoying taking the kids places, sharing with them the things he enjoyed, and simply existing in their presence. He was an amazing and loving father.
After a divorce, Jeff moved to Williston met Kristal Olson and they married in 2009. As his disease progressed, Jeff wanted to release her from their vows, which she finally accepted. As it always seemed to happen with Jeff, everyone who came into his life remained friends.
He never stopped enjoying jokes, being a little mischievous and sarcastic, and laughing until he shook. In later years, he wanted to pass on thoughtful advice, and when speech became too difficult, for his loved ones to know all about him through the stories and memories of all those friends he maintained along the way.
Jeff leaves behind a legacy of optimism. And there to share it, even as we mourn a good man gone too soon, are his children, Cody Bakken and Serena Walen; mother, Debbie Walen; grandfather, Monroe Tweed; ex-wives, Angie Wanzek, and Kristal Walen; maternal aunts, Jill (Dave) Morken, and Marcy (Bruce) Kjelgaard; a handful of cousins; and all those teammates and friends who never forgot him.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne, in 2019; grandparents, Bette Tweed, and Milton & Verna Walen; and aunt, Dianna (Alan) Jackson.

MEMORIALS ARE PREFERRED and may be made to Jeff's family.

TIME OF SHARING: Saturday, February 21, 2026, starting at 10:30 AM, in DuBore Funeral Home Chapel of Warren, MN.
VISITATION: Beginning at 9:00 AM.
DON'T dress up. Casual clothes or sports jerseys would be fine. :)
INTERMENT: In the Spring of 2026 in Glenfield (ND) Cemetery.