Robert Marshall "Bob" Dalen

Robert Marshall “Bob” Dalen, age 96, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 12, 2025, at his home at Pelican Landing in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, with Delores, his wife of 71 ½ years at his bedside.

Bob was born on August 20, 1929, in Milan, Minnesota, to Wally and Stella Dalen. He graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, with a B.S. degree in economics and minors in social sciences and physical education. On June 13, 1954, he married Delores “Dee” Nelson in Hawley, Minnesota. Together, they raised four children: Jan Bieringer of Detroit lakes, Minnesota; John (Lynne) Dalen of Pipestone, Minnesota; Julie (Steven) Hanson of Audubon, Minnesota; and Joni (David) Fischenich of Windom, Minnesota.

As a teacher, Bob taught in Climax, Minnesota; Halstad, Minnesota; and Granite Falls, Minnesota, teaching history and social studies as well as coaching many high school sports. He served as an Assistant Director of the Summer City Recreation Department during the summers in Granite Falls. He received the Jaycee Outstanding Young Man Award in 1963 and was the recipient of the Yellow Medicine County Secondary Teacher of the Year in 1973. He retired from teaching in 1984.

Bob was active in his church and community, serving as a Deacon, Trustee, Usher, and Sunday School teacher at Granite Falls Lutheran Church. He was active in the local Sons of Norway as a past President, Vice President, Trustee, and Counselor. He was a member of the Yellow Medicine County Historical Society. When they relocated to Lake Ida, Bob became a member of the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion (WMSTR) in Rollag, Minnesota where he devoted many Labor Day weekends to working in the Log Cabin Museum. From Lake Ida, they moved to Hawley, then Moorhead, and finally to Detroit Lakes.

Bob’s love of sports started early with playing baseball at age 10 for local teams. He played baseball in high school, college, and a number of town teams in western Minnesota. Throughout his life, Bob had many hobbies including fishing, hunting, camping, history, and antique and artifact collecting. He remained active in bowling, golfing, and as a key player on 55+ senior volleyball teams. In his later years, he was a great supporter of area high school sports and was named “Fan of the Year” by the Hawley Nuggets Booster Club in 2011. Bob was a member of various men’s singing groups and occasionally revealed his comic skills as “Ole” and his wife “Lena” in their senior community in Harlingen, Texas. Bob and Dee enjoyed many winters there and also in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Cecil Dalen; and a son-in-law, John Bieringer, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Delores “Dee” Dalen; four children; seven grandchildren, Leandra (Jake) VanDe Griend, Noah Dalen, Erin (Benji) Santala, Lauren (Josh) McGrath, Sam (Kelsey) Fischenich, Sarah (Nate) Segal, and Joe (Lindsey) Fischenich; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M., followed by the memorial service at 3:00 P.M., Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley, MN. Final resting place will be at Hawley Cemetery, Hawley, MN, following the services.