Geraldine Dalen

Geraldine (Geri) Dalen, age 79 passed away on September 1st, 2020. She was also known as Sissy, Sis, or Sister to family. She will always be remembered for her kind heart, determinedness to always speak her mind, her creative abilities in crafting, sewing, crocheting, and her willingness to go on any adventure. One of the things that she really enjoyed was giving other people a hard time. In that spirit, her family would like to share a few things about Sis with you. Geri had a multitude of health issues, and it is clear after many surgeries, trips to the doctor, emergency department, and some near-death experiences, electing to succumb for no apparent health reason at all is evidence of the stubborn streak inherited from both sides of her family. Please give Dool Medical Transportation some business. With all her medical trips, she no doubt represented a significant portion of their work, so her passing will be a large decrease in revenue. After high school, Geri was a cosmetologist (beautician) for many years, going on to get her degree in Social Work from Minnesota State University -Moorhead later in life, graduating close to the time of her older daughters. No, we did not want to meet her for lunch on campus. She dedicated her life to helping others, first in child protection, teaching parenting skills to the underserved, and later as a home health aide for the elderly. Her daughters found this hilarious as we experienced a childhood free from parental rules or structure and consider it a miracle we made it to adulthood without serious incident. Mom wasn’t known for her housekeeping either, but really enjoyed ‘sorting’ and ‘organizing’ things, which to others may look similar to cleaning your junk drawer. She knew how to make just about anything. For example, if anyone is looking for a crochet pattern for orthotic foot coverings, please let us know. We found one she was perfecting among her belongings, and we’d be happy to share it with you! We often got heck for throwing out something that looked like junk but was some unknown part or scrap of fabric for a craft we didn’t know even existed, which was discovered tucked away some place obscure. In memory of Geri, please start a new craft project and with reckless abandon spread it throughout the house and shove parts of it at the back of several drawers to be found at a much later date! She also enjoyed a good meal, and was fond of criticizing others cooking. Which was interesting considering she wasn’t very domesticated in that area! Growing up, lunch often consisted of an open jar of peanut butter or a dried packet of Lipton’s Chicken Noodle Soup left on the table for each of us to fend for ourselves. She did, however, make a mean Special K bar, therefore, it was considered a food group in our house! Mom also loved a good party or family event and was always the first guest to arrive and the last to leave. Even with family, she was there as a guest and not a helper, prompting us all to tell her the earliest time she could show up to any gathering. Mom took care of several of her grandchildren when they were younger, but never at her house out of fear they’d become a human pin cushion from all the pins scattered around her floor. Any of you who ever visited her know what we’re talking about – we all kept our shoes on! She used to care for the kids until they began to complain that they were babysitting Grandma instead of the other way around, and could they please stay home alone as she was too much work for them. She loved coming to their sporting events and spending time allowing them to do whatever they wanted which included asking them when they should go to bed. In seriousness, she touched people’s hearts, and everyone who knows her has a funny story to tell. She lived her life how she wanted, on her own terms. She was goodhearted, full of mischief, stubborn, loved adventure and was very willing to share her opinion. She embraced an authentic life, and we are grateful for the lessons around how to live fully and be kind to others. We’re certain she is already in heaven looking to ‘speak to someone’ about somethings she’s not too happy about! Geraldine is preceded in death by her parents, Erwin (Buster) and Esmer Shores, Brothers Roger Shores, Richard Shores. She is survived by her sister JoAnn (Brent) Frazier (oddly also known as Sis or Sister), brother Jerry (LaVonne) Shores, daughters Karyn Entzion, Sharyn (Kurt) Boeckman, foster daughter Cathy (Ming) Pho, special niece Tonya (Sean) Radel and grandchildren Ian Entzion, Gretchen and Rachel Boeckman, Raymond, Michelle, and Ethan Pho and many cousins, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Red River Valley Hospice, and a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Riverfront on Main in Pelican Rapids, MN. They were a second family to our mom, and we know she would never have gotten the personalized care and attention anywhere else. We appreciate the loving care they provided. A private graveside memorial will be held in the coming weeks, and in keeping with Geri’s outlook on life, a party will be held at a later date where everyone is invited. Please show up early and stay late. All memorials preferred Riverfront on Main Memorial Fund. Burial: Scambler Cemetery, Rural Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Please keep the Dalen family in your thoughts and prayers.