Valerie Straavaldsen

Dear Carol, Knowing that there is no bond as great as that between a parent and child, we offer you our deepest sympathy. May Valerie's "sunshine" continue to light up even the darkest of days! LIVE STRONG. With Lots of Love ALWAYS, Dolly and Dave Lakeside, Oregon

Hi Carol, I am Jane's friend. I amsorry I couldn't make it there with Jane, I have a job interview in Milwaukee on Monday. I would like to offer you my deepest sympathy.Stay STRONG, and I will see you soon. Jeff Routhieaux

Dear Carol - My mother phoned me with the sad news yesterday. She is going to try to make the visitation today to see how you are holding up. I will send you a card but wanted to reach out to you today to praise you on what a wonderful daughter you raised. Val was a beautiful spirit full of love and life and creativity and humor. I cherish having known her and consider it a blessing having had her in my life during those confusing years of young adulthood. I know how very close the two of you were and hope that knowing our thoughts are with you will somehow help ease the grief in some small way. Sincerely, Kim Jensen

A really sweet person and talented stylist has left us and I offer my most sincere sympathy to her family and dear friends. Val was my stylist for 20 years, from the time I was 14 to when she left Mpls for good. She also styled for my parents and brother, and as such our family felt close to her. It seems every big day of my life involved a visit to Val from each prom, high school graduation, my wedding day, to when she fixed the mess that was my hair after I had my first child. She was always so self-depricating, sweet and fun with a smile on her face and a laugh no matter what was going on with her personally. I have missed her and wished her well since she left our city and now will always. She is irreplaceable. Bon voyage, Val.

Well, Val really did it this time. For decades when I would call to make an appointment with the best stylist in the Twin Cities, as I understand Rocco once claimed of Val, I would typically be informed that Her Royal Red-Headedness, or whatever color it was this month, was maybe in Paris. Or maybe in Amsterdam. Or maybe no ne knew for certain just where this strange and wonderful woman was. I am not absolutely certain that Val knew where she was at any given moment. But I know where her heart was, and I know what profound feelings she had for family, friends, and associates. And her dog--don't forget her dog! She was good at what she did and she was good at life, which she lived to the max. She attempted to make us all look our best, and she did it well, for all of our family. Good heavens--what a woman! And now, she really did it this time and we are all going to have to wait I guess an eternity for another appointment with Val. Are we certain she's not in Paris? With love and happy memories, Jack and Clover Uecker