Shirley Ida Engen

Shirley Engen, age 86 of Newport was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on November 2, 2023.

A Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 am Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Woodbury Lutheran Church - Oak Hill Campus, 9050 60th Street North, Stillwater, Minnesota, 55082 with a visitation from 10:00 – 11:00 am with lunch following the service.

She was born on January 30, 1937 on the family farm in Leonard, Minnesota, to Paul and Ida Mittag. She was the youngest of five children.  She met her soulmate, Robert Engen at a barn dance.  She married Robert on December 30, 1961.  They moved to Mohall, North Dakota, where they made their home for five years and three of their four children were born.  In 1968, they moved to Newport, Minnesota.

Shirley’s faith in Jesus was the most important thing to her and she spent her life loving our Lord and committed her life to serving him in any way she could.  She was an active member of Woodbury Lutheran Church where she enjoyed attending bible studies and providing her artistic talents wherever needed.  She loved her family and never missed an event for her children and grandchildren.

Shirley became interested in art in her teenage years and enrolled in a correspondence course at the Art Instruction School of Minneapolis.  Shirley’s work has appeared in art shows at the Minnesota State Capital and many other places in the Twin cities area.  She was a featured artist for four years for the Courage Card Collection.  She illustrated two children’s books along with one college book.  Shirley enjoyed sharing with others, through her paintings, the beauty that God created in flowers, animals and especially children.  Shirley was also an avid gardener, bird watcher and loved to travel. 

Shirley is preceded to Heaven by her parents: Paul and Ida Mittag; brothers Ralph and Earl Mittag; and her beloved best friend and sister Edna Marsh.  Shirley is survived by her soulmate Robert and her children Kyle (Maria), Kelvin, Eldon (Sandra) and Brenda; grandchildren Tony (Angie), Jacob, Bailey (Ryan) and Kelsey (Nick) and great grandchild Kourtlyn; and sister Ruth Mattson and many nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to the staff at Loving Care Cottages for their wonderful care of Shirley and helping making her finals days peaceful and full of love.