Unni Meyer died suddenly at her home in Oak Harbor on April 29, 2007. Unni Dalan was born April 14, 1936 at home, on the island of Vanneroy, Norway, north of Tromso in the land of the midnight sun. The daughter of Gerhardt and Liv Dalan, Unni emerged from a difficult World War II childhood in Nazi occupied Norway, with an unending, positive, enthusiastic perspective. Her gift for connecting with people and making friends displayed itself early in her life with candy handouts and bike rides from the German soldiers.

In 1956 Unni arrived in the United States with her parents and brothers. The family settled in Williston, N.D., and began their American life. Despite not being able to read or to write one word of English, Unni’s persistence and determination earned her employment and a driver’s license. She worked at Bethel Home where her bilingual skills made her a favorite with many residents.

Unni Dalan met Carl Meyer at a Sons of Norway dance and the couple eloped to Las Vegas on Feb. 1, 1958.

Carl and Unni established their home and raised their children on the family farm in Tioga, N.D. Among the many crop and livestock projects, Unni was best known as the milk lady. The family sold milk to a local cheese factory and Unni established a successful side business providing bargain milk to local families.

In 1979, Carl and Unni established a home on Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor. They continued to spend time farming in North Dakota until 1990, while becoming part of the Oak Harbor community that would become their retirement home. Before Carl’s passing in 2001, the couple so enjoyed their island life and friends plus visiting their children and grandchildren. Since arriving in Oak Harbor, Unni has been a very special volunteer with Help House food bank. Unni shared the last three years of her life with her special friend Al Braley. Their short time together and their love for each other provides all with an incredible example of “life well lived.”

Unni’s generous fun loving spirit will be so very missed by everyone she touched. She genuinely loved people and she always held a special place in her heart for those in need. She was a vibrant community volunteer and a committed long-term foster parent. Her grandchildren will be sharing adventure stories of their Grandma Unni to their children and grandchildren. She always had time to play and make them feel special; surfing in Hawaii, hiking in Montana, tubing the river in Minnesota, beach fun in California and Washington, skiing in Colorado and nightclubbing the night away with the college scene in North Dakota.

Unni is survived by her children Mona (Doug) Wilkinson and their family Kim (Ken) Sanford and Mitch Wilkinson of West Fargo, N.D.; Linda (Doug Baatrup) Meyer and their children Cassie Meyer and Garrick Baatrup of West Fargo, N.D.; Mark (Cristy) Meyer and their children Matthew and Carly of Centennial, Colo.; Melissa (Jeffrey) Foster and their children Tyler and Mia of LaMesa, Calif. Unni also leaves brothers Ozzie (Gwen) Dalan, Jon (Nancy) Dalan, Geir (Pam) Dalan, special friend Al Braley, many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. Her parents, her husband and an infant son preceded her in death.

Memorial services for Unni will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Burley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Lori Johnson of the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.