Tabitha J. Dalman

Tabitha’s funeral Mass will be livestreamed below at 10:00 AM Friday August 23, 2024.

Tabitha’s prayer service will be livestreamed below at 7 pm, Thursday, August 22, 2024

St. Basil the Great said, “A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.” The story of Tabitha’s life reveals the truth of this statement. Her life was defined by her generosity of her time that she gave to others. Her ability to connect to strangers, to her students, to her beloved friends and family was how she spread her faith in God that rooted her life.

Tabitha Jean Dalman (TJ, Teej, Tabby, Sunshine) was born on August 7th, 1979 to Wallace and Colleen (Zimprich) Dalman. Their Catholic faith was a gift to her as she journeyed through life. She was baptized at St. Mary of the Lakes near Detroit Lakes, MN. She received her First Communion at Holy Rosary in Detroit Lakes. She was confirmed at St. Stephen’s in Larimore, ND. Her home in the universal Catholic Church kept her rooted as she moved and traveled her way through her life.

Born into a family of educators, TJ’s love of education began with her own education. While her childhood was filled with many moves through small towns of Minnesota and North Dakota, her love of change and the excitement of the unknown was established early in her life. Her frequent moves meant that she learned to make new friends wherever she went. Tabitha graduated high school from Aneta, ND. She spent one year at Mayville State College before transferring to the University of North Dakota where she earned her teaching degree in Special Education.

Tabby’s desire for adventure led her to teach not only in North Dakota and Minnesota but in Belgium, Qatar, Taiwan, and Singapore. Her love for travel and experiencing different cultures made her a world traveler where she brought joy and friendship with her wherever she went. Her greatest hobby was collecting friendships and she was blessed with the ability to make and maintain them. Despite living long distance, she kept up with her friends and family here in the United States. School vacations were spent traveling and flying all around to catch up with those she loved here at home.

Tabitha’s ability to connect to people was her greatest gift. She made you feel as if you were the most important person in the world. Her ability to truly listen to someone was something that could only be considered a heavenly gift. This gift extended to her students who were blessed to have her as a teacher. Her giving and loving spirit made those who knew her love her all the more.

Tabitha’s life was not without suffering. She endured a couple of health scares and she was constantly discerning God’s will in her life amidst the changes. She struggled through spiritual battles but made a point of offering her suffering for others. She often said, “I only want to do God’s will and what is good for my soul.” Her faith was what kept her grounded. She attended daily Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament when she was able to. Her desire to keep her eyes ever focused on Him leaves us comforted that she will receive her Heavenly Reward. After a life spent bringing Christ’s love, compassion, charity, and understanding to so many people across the world, her light will shine down on her friends and family. Her nickname of “Sunshine” was so endearing because she brought her light to so many through friendship, as an educator, through her prayers for others and through her most beloved role as an aunt. Connection was Tabitha’s currency and she spent it with abandon. The fruit of her life was friendship and her reward was love.

Tabitha is survived by her parents, Wally and Colleen, Portland ND; sisters Christina (Jeff) Anderson of Sharon, ND; Wanita (Eric) Haagenson of Harlow, ND; Teresa (Preston) Schwegel of Dawson, MN; Adriana (Mark) Howell of Black Diamond, WA; and brother Dominic Dalman, Glenfield, ND. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews: Eric Dalman, Mayville; Charlotte Dalman, Roselynn Anderson, Mary Lou Anderson, Sharon, ND; Gavin, Beau, and Lena Haagenson, Harlow, ND; Carver, Drake, Jax, Breeze, Bexlee Schwegel, Dawson, MN; Logan and Sophia Dalman, Glenfield, ND; Nora & Luke Howell, Black Diamond, WA and many cousins, aunts and uncles.

She was preceeded in death by her grandparents: Edward and Rita Zimprich; Walfred and Jean Dalman; and cousin Thomas Thorson.