politician member of the Parliament of Norway
He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Telemark in 1931, and was re-elected on four occasions. Shortly into his fifth term, he died and was replaced by Ketil Skogen. From 1925 to 1931 he served as deputy mayor.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany he was imprisoned in Grini concentration camp from 24 November 1943, then in Berg concentration camp from 20 March 1944 to the occupation"s end in May 1945.
Valen became a member of Bø municipality in 1919, and became mayor in 1922.