Helen Engen

Helen E. Engen, age 90 passed away Sunday, October 19, 2025 at Dougherty Hospice in Sioux Falls, SD.  Her Funeral Service will be 2:00 PM Friday, October 24, 2025 at Hope Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls with visitation beginning an hour prior to the service.  Interment at Hills of Rest Cemetery.  

Helen wrote her life story before her passing:

Helen Elaine Engen was born June 16, 1935 to Curtis and Amandice (Robinson) Thorson on a farm near Wakonda, SD.  At age two, we moved to California for two years. I attended country school until 1948. We moved to Volin, SD and I graduated from Volin High School.  My first job was as the Broadcaster in Vermillion. I married my high school sweetheart, Robert Engen on October 1, 1953. We lived in Yankton, SD and Irene, SD. I worked at Trinity Extension Services & Allen-Gulling Insurance.

 Daughter Linda was born in 1958, and she passed away after birth. Son Steven was born in 1959 and passed away a few months later.  In 1961, we adopted Bryan, and Brenda was born that same year.  In 1968, we moved to Sioux Falls. I helped my husband with rentals, flea markets, and antique auto swap meets. 

I am a member of Hope Lutheran Church, where I help with the bazaar and make quilts. My hobbies include cross-stitching, crafts, collecting rabbits, and 1,000-piece puzzles. My husband passed in 2015, and my son, Bryan, passed in 2024.

My daughter Brenda resides in Sioux Falls; grandchildren are Sara Schuldt, Michael, Bryan Jr., and Ashton; my great-grandchildren are Trey, Hayley, Kayden, Presley, Trystan and Madelynn; great-great grandchildren are Kenneth James (KJ), Everlee and Ember; also survived by my sister, Marilyn Bring, Norfolk, NE and Becky (Gary) Delvo, Watertown, SD; brother, Clare Thorson of Norfolk, NE; sister-in-law, Sherry Fuller, Wenatchee, WA and daughters-in-laws, LeAnn Olsen and Vicki Jorgenson; grand-dog, Lucy; and a host of many other relatives and friends. 

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert Engen; children, Linda Diane, Steven Craig, and Bryan Robert; sister, Faye Knodel (whom she helped raise); brothers and sister-in-law, LeRoy Bring, Bill Knodel, and Sue Thorson; nephews: Kyle Culver, Danny Thorson and Tim Knodel.