David Wallien

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of Life.”

David P. Wallien, age 97, died on June 17, 2026, at Bethesda Nursing Home in Aberdeen, SD, where he resided in assisted living for the past year. He was a believer in Jesus and ready for eternal life with his Lord.

He was born March 2, 1929, in Montevideo, Minnesota, and was the son of the late Roy and Valborg (Jorgenson) Wallien. David married Mavis Anderson, his high-school sweetheart, and they were blessed with a daughter, Pamela, and a son, Paul.

Dave served his country as a Sergeant in the United States Army National Guard (1948-1952) with the 47th Infantry Division at Camp Rucker, Alabama, returning later to Montevideo, where he purchased Frisholm Shoes, which later became the Country Cobblers. While in Montevideo, Dave was active in leadership in the community and was elected to the city council, chairman of the Fiesta Days Parade, and a committed member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, singing in the Senior Choir.

Dave bought Braun’s Shoes in Fairmont. After selling Braun’s, he traveled the road selling shoes for 22 years throughout eight states. He married Shirley Wessel of Fairmont, and they enjoyed winters in Tucson, AZ.

A true lover of music, he played the violin and mastered the ukulele. He sang with the Mozart Marching Society in Fairmont and a choral group at Tucson Estates. He was also a member of the choice at 1st Congregational Church while in Fairmont. Dave was a voracious reader and had a notebook labeled from A-Z that tracked the titles of the many books he’d read. He said this was necessary to avoid reading the same book twice. Gardening was also a favorite pastime of Dave’s; his tomatoes, potatoes, and rhubarb were stellar! He was a downhill skier and ski jumper. He taught Paul and Pam to ski at the age of four and five, engaging a man from Sweden to make their first pair of skis. His love for skiing took him to Alta, Utah, for the 1960 Winter Olympics.

A lover of travel, Dave visited Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Amsterdam, and Canada, favoring Viking Cruises. He loved camping at various national parks in the U.S., with the Grand Tetons being his favorite. He treasured hiking in the Tucson mountains, and golf took up most of his spare time.

Left on this earth surviving Dave are his daughter, Pamela McKeown of Hudson, New Hampshire; son, Paul (Colleen) Wallien of Aberdeen, SD; and stepdaughters: Shari Thielges of Eden Prairie, MN, Jodie (Al Siebert) Whitmore of Fairmont, MN, and Elizabeth Duncan of Detroit Lakes, MN.

Dave is also survived by his brother, Robert (Betty) Wallien of Bloomington, MN; sister, Alice Wallien of Roseville, MN; grandchildren: Megan (Adam) Sears of Westford, Massachusetts, Andrea (Lucas) Dietterle of Papillion, Nebraska, and Daniel (Meera) Wallien of Cypress, Texas; step-grandchildren: Dayton (Cami) Whitmore, Colby (Krystal) Whitmore, Tanner (Emma) Duncan, Garret (Vanessa) Duncan, Corbin (Sarah) Duncan, Makenna (Carson) Reep, and Kelsey (Jake) Kadlec. Dave was also blessed with 20 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and nieces Kathy, Chris, Patricia, and Amy, and nephew Mike.

Memorials are preferred to Bethesda Towne Square, 1425 15th Ave SE, Aberdeen, SD 57401.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is honored to serve the Wallien family. Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com.

A service will be held at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont, Minnesota, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with a private interment to follow at Fairview Memorial Park.