Maren was first hired to tell tales from the great oral traditions of the world by Bernard Pollishuk for the 1967 King County Libraries Summer Storytelling in Washington. She has been teaching and telling stories ever since. Some of her clients have been the Minneapolis Public Libraries, Senior Residencies and Services, The Guthrie Theatre, MN. State Arts Board, Universities in Norway, International Childrens’ Peace Festival, Norwegian Cultural Olympics, Lillehammer Norway and many church and community events.
Erling graduated from St. Olaf College. He received his Master's from Harvard and Ph.D from Wisconsin. He started teaching at St. Olaf in 1956 and retired after 38 years in 1994. His interest was in American Religious History and thought. He is an author and was active in lifelong education.