Hubert Ernest Dahlen

Hubert Ernest Dahlen was born on April 11, 1934 to Ernest and Hilaria Dahlen on the family dairy farm near Hayfield, Minnesota. He was baptized a few days later at West St. Olaf Lutheran Church. The first 16 years of his life were spent helping his parents with the hard, but satisfying business of running the farm, going to the local school with his kid sister, Barbara, and just being a country kid.

In the late 1940’s, the family closed the door and left the farm, headed for the job prospects of the Hanford Nuclear Project near the Tri-Cities of Washington State. After two years, the Dahlen family returned to their roots and moved back to the family farm.

Hubert graduated from Hayfield High School in 1952. He met and dated Ann Frost of Byron Minnesota. In 1954, Hubert enlisted in the US Army and was soon stationed in Kitzingen, Germany. After she graduated from high school in 1955, Ann joined Hubert in Germany and they were married on July 23, 1955 in German law and again two days later under American law.

After his time in the Army, Hubert and Ann returned to Minnesota and eventually bought a modest home in Rochester. Hubert was employed by the Crenlo Company as a truck driver. Between 1957 and 1964, Hubert and Ann had four children, Beth, Jo, Amy and John.

In 1966 Hubert and family moved to Seattle, Washington during the Boeing Boom. Herb, as he came to be known continued working for Boeing until his retirement in 1996.

In August 31, 1977 Herb married Leta Youngman. They lived all around the country in their 37 years together (New York, California, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Arizona and Washington State). Herb and Leta returned to Washington from Arizona this last year settling in Federal Way.

Herb passed away on February 11, 2014 after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife Leta, his sister Barbara Nord of Mantorville MN, his 4 children, 6 step children, 24 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Memorial services will be held February 21st at 1 pm at United Lutheran Church, 1231 S 76th St, Tacoma WA.