Harry E. Walen was born in Foster County to Henry and Ellen Walen. His father and mother were both born in Minnesota. As a young man Henry homesteaded in Canada and later returned and married Ellen Westvig in Willmar, Minnesota, and then came to North Dakota where they started farming. Harry is one of eight children. His brothers and sisters are Ella Larson of Binford, Alice Briss of Cooperstown, Albert Louis, died in infancy, Levina Klien of Foley, Minnesota, August of Glenfield, Maynard of Cooperstown, and Albert of Fargo. All spent their early years on the farm in Foster County.

Harry married Doris Jensen in Cooperstown on September 26, 1943. Doris was born in Steele County, North Dakota, to J. F. and Alma Jensen. Her father was born in Minnesota and her mother, Alma Lennea Paterson was born in Sweden and came to America when she was 16 years old.

Doris has two brothers and one sister. Maynard and Virgil, deceased and Berniece Turnquist of Cooperstown. Their parents farmed and lived on several different farms in Griggs and Steele Counties.

Harry and Doris began their married life on the farm near Glenfield and have three children: Vivian Ann, married Jerry Smith, deceased. She then married Erroll Bong and has three children, Todd A. Smith, Vicky Jo and Nathan Bong. Irvin Lee married Sandra Schumacher and has two children, Wendy and Gregg Walen. Karen Dorene married Norman Bakken and has two children, Brian and Bradley Bakken.

Source:  Glenfield History 1886 €“ 1987 Page 187