Valerie Alyson Bliss

Valerie Alyson Bliss parted this life and embraced the next peacefully at home surrounded by her family on April 26, 2015. Val was born March 10, 1954, in Kennewick, Washington to Dr. Jackson Lind and Elaine (Peterson) Lind. During her early years while her father was in College and Medical Residency, they moved around quite a bit and Val had many fond memories of this time. They finally ended up residing in Fargo, North Dakota and that is where she primarily grew up. In June of 1975, on an adventure to try something new with some friends, Val, her sister Steph, and a few others headed to Arlington, Minnesota to respond to an advertisement by a local produce company looking for workers. That is where this free spirited young lady met Bob Bliss, who she later married on December 4, 1976 in Fargo, North Dakota and began a journey that was nothing short of amazing. Val and Bob adventured into several careers with great success in each and were always adventurous and willing to try something new. Boredom was not an issue with Val...everything was always an adventure. One thing that truly measures her success in life is her family. She always had a great desire to follow her father's footsteps in medicine, and when Crystal, their first daughter was born July 15, 1977, it became very important to both Val and Bob that someone needed to be home with their child. Val decided that her children were much more important than pursuing higher education and a career in medicine...at least for the time being. Then Lexie was born March 9, 1981 and family was elevated again to the top of their priority list. Once both girls were in school, Val, a very intelligent young lady, enrolled at NDSU where for about 3 years had a 4.0 gpa and was on the Dean's List every cycle. When Crystal hit adolescence and with Lexie saying, "Mom, I want you home when I get out of school," Val once again recognized her priorities needed to be more focused at home and put her schooling on hold. There is no question in anyone's mind that Crystal and Lexie were the most important thing to her. Making life the best she possibly could for her children was first and foremost her highest ambition and priority. Then came the grandbabies...and all bets were off. As important as Crystal, Lexie, and Corey were to her, Taylor, Tyler, Livie, Max and the coming of Lexie's daughter were second to none. Through the love, patience, and care she provided to each generation that followed her, her heritage is strong, alive, and well. Throughout Val's life, another great gift she had was being a good friend. She is one that many today would truthfully say, "Val was my best friend." It is amazing, as most of us are fortunate to go through life and hopefully have one...maybe two very close, best friends...Val had scores. She was a loving, caring, non-selfish, care-free soul that ALWAYS valued relationships over anything else...and most everyone noticed this and gravitated to her because of it. Obviously, she will be deeply missed by all of her family...she was a key, central, and important part of all their lives. She will also be missed by many friends as well. She loved life, she loved family, she loved people...she loved. She was full of joy, a fun free spirited lady, extremely honest with everyone, and always interested in adventure and good times. Even upon receiving the news of her health, these characteristics of hers did not waiver. A remarkable young lady that left us with the same grace and dignity she portrayed in life, and left us all too soon. She was proceeded in death by her loving grandmother that she often called her mom, Vera Lind and grandfather Jack Lind; her other grandparents Maurice and Francis Peterson; and her mother Elaine Lind. She is survived by her loving husband Bob Bliss; her loving children Crystal and Corey (Weimer) Bliss of LaMoure, North Dakota and Lexie Bliss of Minneapolis, Minnesota; the greatest grandchildren in the world Taylor, Tyler, Olivia, Maxwell and another little girl on her way (Lexie's); her father Dr. Jack Lind (Bonnie); her sister Steph Zinck (Dan), and brothers Jack Lind (Karen) and Leif Lind; step siblings Chris Lind (Crystal), Stephanie Lind, and Jacob (Megan) Lind; and a host of friends that were also very important to her and too many to list. God bless the memory and generations for a very dear lady...friend, wife, mother and grandmother...Valerie Alyson Bliss. Shine on you Crazy Diamond! The family would like all gifts to be directed to... The Master's Theatre, Inc. (TMT) PO Box 1723 Fargo ND 58107 TMT is a non-profit organization that Val and Bob founded in 1986 that serves those that are in places that society often overlooks. For 29 years TMT has been traveling from ND to the New England States serving both juveniles and adults in prisons, those in shelters from un-wed mothers, to battered women and the homeless, working in inner-cities, offering festival chaplaincy programs and serving as Chaplains for the Becker County Sheriff's Office (serving Officers, those incarcerated and the community at large).