ENGEN, Helen Ruth (Brown) 1925-1999

DONLAN, BROWN, ENGEN, HALVERSON, HOOVER, SWEET, TESLOW, HEMESATH, SHARP, SYVERSON, WEBER, RUDE

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/11/2010 at 19:21:28

Decorah Journal, Thursday, November 25, 1999

Helen Engen

Helen Engen, 74, of rural Postville, died Friday, Nov. 19, 1999, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis., after complications from surgery.

A funeral mass was held Monday, Nov. 22, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, with the Rev. Gary Krapfl officiating.

Alan Sensor was the organist. Sue English was the soloist. Songs included "Be Not Afraid," "On Eagle's Wings," "How Great Thou Art" and "Old Rugged Cross."

Casket bearers were Jesse Lepa, Terry Quam, Cody Teslow, Dennis Quam, Ryan Halverson and Chad Halverson.

Interment was at St. Bridget's Catholic Cemetery, Bluffton. The French & Balik Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Helen Ruth (Brown) Engen was born April 25,1925 in Bluffton, the daughter of William and Mary (Donlan) Brown. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Bluffton. Helen attended country school near Bluffton.

On Dec. 29, 1942, she married Lester Engen at St. Bridget's and to this union five daughters were born, Doris, Rosalyn, Jan, Joyce and Diane.

The first years of married life the couple farmed near Bluffton, with the last 33 spent near Frankville. Helen worked at Wapsie Produce for 34 years and also at the Aase Haugen Home for 11 of those years.

Helen is remembered as teaching those close to her the importance of loving family and having open arms for those in need. She showed them how to treat others with respect, to love, to laugh and be strong.

She was forever watching her daughters, grandchildren and anyone needing guidance, hope and courage. Her spirit will remain alive.

Helen enjoyed playing cards, shopping, baking and gardening. Every year her yard was filled with flowers. She also enjoyed collecting ceramic hens and roosters, and Santa Claus figurines to decorate her home.

Helen really enjoyed children. She made many baby quilts for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, all of the children of her nieces and nephews, and others who needed a special baby gift.

Survivors include her husband, Lester Engen of Postville; her five daughters, Diane Engen and Larry Krivachek of Waukon, Jan and Boyd Halverson of Decorah, Rosalyn Hoover and Gene Wagner of Algona, Doris Sweet and Cliff Carolan of Decorah, and Joyce and Wayne Teslow of Postville; and her sisters, Alice and Joe Hemesath of Decorah, Rose Sharp of Decorah, Frances and Lavern Syverson of Decorah, and Regina Weber of Hampton.

There are 12 grandchildren, Dennis, Terry, Christy, Karla, Tanya, Jill, Chad, Ryan, Crystal, Cody, Jesse and Shannon; and seven greatgrandchildren, Starlette, Bradly, Ambrihel, Brody, Savannah, Colton and Kasey.

Helen Engen was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Rita Rude and Mary Ellen in infancy; twin brother and sister in infancy, John and Evelyn; and a great-granddaughter, Ashley Klimesh.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.