Marian Claudia

July 23, 1929 – March 12, 2022

            At  92, she passed away and is finally at peace.  She is now with her heavenly Father able to see, walk, paint, and finally able to enjoy the things she has been missing.

            Marian was born on July 23, 1929 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Roscoe and Merle Dalen.  She is preceded in death by her husband Warren, her parents, and her 3 brothers; Roscoe Jr., Bill and Ted.  Marian is survived by her son Lee, daughters Jan and Kay; grandchildren Forrest, Chelsea, Tim, Tiffany, Taylor and Thomas; and 4 great grandchildren.  Marian will be missed by her loving family, friends, and members of her church-Bethany Lutheran.

Marian started sketching and drawing from the time she started school.  In the fourth grade her teacher noticed her natural talent.  Her love of art blossomed and she earned many awards in school.  She married and moved to Nebraska where she became an active member of Associated Artists of Omaha.  Her art earned her awards and was displayed at Joslyn’s Art Museum where she was one of the artists chosen to represent Nebraska.  With that honor, her watercolor was hung in the Senate building in Washington, D.C. for that show.  She has won many awards over the years and her work is represented in private collections, businesses, artists and professional people (which includes a Presidential family).

            Along with painting – she designed a logo for  “The Nebraska Synod Lutheran”; created Christmas cards for Children’s Memorial Hospital, painted murals on the walls in a children’s nursery at Augustana Lutheran Church, and created “Lil’ Kids” drawings inspired by watching her own children growing up.

            After moving to Colorado in 1973, she joined Colorado Watercolor Society.  While continuing to paint at home, she made time to paint murals on the walls of the nursery and children’s rooms at Bethany Lutheran Church.

            She moved back to Minnesota years later and became a member of the Art Center of Minnesota.  She opened her own home studio gallery, Claudia’s Cottage, where she displayed and sold her work.

            Several years later, she moved back to Colorado.  She enjoyed painting in her home studio.  During this time she volunteered to re-paint the murals in Bethany Lutheran Church after a fire that destroyed everything.  Her joy is knowing the children are able to enjoy, through the murals, visiting cities and places from the bible in the classrooms, and the nursery filled with colorful characters, animals and nursery rhymes.  Throughout the years she knew she wanted to write children’s books.  She made up bedtime stories in her head.  Her dream came true with the publishing of her first of several books, “Flora Bunion and Her Blue Boots”.  She delighted with knowing that children and parents can enjoy her stories.

            A memorial service will be held on April 2, 2022 at 3PM at Bethany Lutheran Church.  

 4500 E. Hampden Ave., Cherry Hills Village, Colorado 80113. 

In lieu of flowers, donations are to be made to Bethany Lutheran Church Children’s Ministry and Art Program.