Obituary Posted: 9/14/04
Francis John Engel, the son of John and Frances (Clark) Engel, was born Feb. 7, 1923 in Edmunds County, South Dakota. He grew up in rural Potter County and graduated from Hoven High School in Hoven, South Dakota.
In February of 1945, Francis entered the United States Army. He served with the occupation forces in Japan and received his honorable discharge at Fort Lewis, Washington in December of 1946. At that time he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and continued his education by enrolling at the Dunwoody Institute there.
On May 26, 1962, Francis was united in marriage to Damis Rivere in south Minneapolis.
Francis and Damis made their first home together in south Minneapolis and continued to live there for many years. They were active members of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society. Francis was also a long time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Yorktown Post #178, in Minneapolis.
During this time Francis was employed at the Western Electric Company of Minneapolis as an installer. He retired from there in 1973 with over thirty years of service.
In their retirement years, Francis and Damis enjoyed traveling in their motor home to visit distant relatives and friends. In 1992 they decided to move to Rush City, Minn.
In November of 2002, declining health caused Francis to move to Aberdeen, South Dakota where he became a resident of the Aberdeen Living Center. He died there on Sept. 8, 2004, having reached the age of 81 years.
Francis is survived by his grandchildren: Dennis (Connie) Swensrud of Rush City, Becky (Tom) Shand of Sartell, MN, Donna (Warren) Peters of Ruth City, Amanda Swensrud (Corey Monster) of Harris, MN; great grandchildren: Ryan Swensrud, Chrissy (Nathan) Hahn, Samantha Shand, Bethany Peters, and Zachary Peters; great great grandchild: Brooke Hahn; sisters: Veronica Albrecht of Crescent City, CA, Mary (Celestine) Barondeau of Onaka, SD and Theresa (Francis) Kirby of Lebanon, SD; his brothers: Anthony Engel of Waldorf, MD, Patrick (Crystal) Engel of Flower Mound, TX, and Edward (Grace) Engel of Phoenix, AZ; sisters-in-law: Katherine Engel of Moline, IL and Rosemary Engel of Apple Valley, MN; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Francis was preceded in death by his parents, John and Frances Engel; his wife, Damis, who died in July of 2003; his daughter, Lois Swensrud and her husband, Frank; and his brothers, Vincent Engel and Lawrence Engel.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rush City with Father Xavier Thelakkatt officiating. Music was provided by organist Nancy Sterk and soloist Paula Belland. Casket bearers were Tom Shand, Warren Peters, and Dennis Swensrud. Entombment was at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
Military honors were provided by the Minnesota Army National Guard Funeral Detail of Pine City and the Grothe-Jacobson VFW Post # 6692 of Rush City. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Funeral & Cremation Service of Rush City Olson Chapel.
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