Joan Mahlen, 80, Fargo, ND died Jan. 17, 2025.
Celebration of life will be June 7, 1 p.m. at Roots Kitchen and Taphouse, Webster.
Joan Bassett was born Jan. 7, 1945 to Walter and Louella (Stowell) Bassett in Watertown. She grew up on a farm near Wilmot. They moved to Watertown for her last two years of high school and where she waitressed while attending dental school.
She married Dennis Mahlen in Watertown in 1967. They lived in Minneapolis, MN. They moved to Webster in 1976 and bought a tire store. She moved to Rapid City and then Las Vegas, NV in 2003. She moved to the Midwest in 2016, living her final years in Fargo.
She enjoyed sewing, arts and crafts. She especially enjoyed painting saws, mufflers, oil cans, canvas, wooden pieces, restored trunks, cream cans, toilet seats, cars, her two trikes and a cutter sleigh.
Survivors include her son, Steve Mahlen; daughter, Nancy Mahlen; sonin- law Ben Laabs; two grandsons, ex-husband; two nieces, one nephewin- law, one grandniece and five grandnephews.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Keith Bassett and one niece.