Alice Jeannette Walleen went to live with Jesus on April 24, 2009. She was 85 years old and was a longtime resident of Riverdale, CA.

Alice "Tootie" was born Oct. 3, 1923, to Fred and Mildred Beck of Columbus, ND. She was the oldest of four children. She graduated from Lignite High School in North Dakota and married Kenneth Walleen of Bowbells, ND, in 1943. Ken and Alice celebrated their 65th anniversary December 20, 2008.

Initially, Kenneth and Alice lived in Bowbells, where they had three daughters, Leslie Jean, Susan Jo and Sheila Rae. In 1958 they moved to Columbus, ND. In 1961 they moved to Riverdale, CA, and had been there ever since.

Alice was a homemaker and a wonderful, loving wife and mother. She was a bookkeeper for Dorn's Gas for 20 years. Alice was a 4-H leader for many years in North Dakota. Ken and Alice did much traveling after their retirement. They went sightseeing across the U.S., visited Canada and traveled to Norway and Sweden.

Alice loved to sew, crochet, embroider and perfected the art of Norwegian hardanger. She gave most of the items she made to loved ones and their friends. Everyone loved going to her house, especially on bread baking day! Spending time with her family gave her great joy. Alice was a lifelong Christian. She taught many Sunday school classes, held offices in the church and sang in the church choir.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Mildred Beck.

She is survived by: her sister Maybell Corey and her husband, Howard, of Bowbells, ND, her brother Douglas Beck and his wife, Arlene, of Minot, ND and her brother Brian Beck and his wife, Audrey, of Burlington, ND. She is also survived by her daughters Leslie Newsom and her husband, Joe, of Porterville, CA, Susan Minor and her husband, Ron, of Hanford, CA, and by Sheila Winslow and her husband, John, of Monument, CO; her seven grandchildren Tom and Elizabeth Newsom, Brad and Brian Minor, Greg and David Winslow and Kimberly Swaim. She also has 12 great-grandchildren with three more due to arrive this year. She has also been blessed with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

The service will be held at 11 a.m., April 29, 2009, with refreshments to be served immediately after at the Riverdale Methodist Church. Viewing will be at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Riverdale Methodist Church Building Fund at P.O. Box 698, Riverdale, CA 93656.

Proverbs 31:10-31

With all our love, from our house to yours. Ken and Alice

(Wallins Riverdale Funeral Home, Riverdale, CA)