Shirley Beth (Polzin) Engel was born September 26, 1924 in rural Deuel County, South Dakota, and passed away May 17, 2016 at Brentwood Estates. She graduated from Marietta, Minnesota High School in 1942, then joined the war effort doing assembly work in a glider factory in the Twin Cities. When the war was over, she married Marvin Engel in 1946. After raising four children, she returned to the work force doing secretarial work. She retired after almost 24 years as assistant editor of the church news magazine, OUTLOOK. After retiring Shirley did some volunteering at Union College and volunteered on a weekly basis at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital for almost seven years.
Shirley’s hobbies were reading, knitting and china painting. Her favorite part of the Bible was the Sermon on the Mount as found in the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of the book of Matthew which she had memorized. It begins with the blessings Jesus bestows on His followers, then how we should relate to and treat one another. In the sixth chapter He tells us how to worship Him – giving alms, praying, fasting, etc. The seventh chapter contrasts His faithful believers with the imposters.
Among Shirley’s favorite memories were a four-week vacation in Australia, trailer-traveling and camping including backpacking in the Grand Canyon, having a hot-air balloon ride and flying in a small, open cockpit plane.
Survivors: husband, Marvin, daughters and sons-in-law, Nadeane and Tom Diede and Connie and Mike Williams, one son Blair; five grandchildren, Tanya (Diede) Bindernagel, Kristin Hood. Therese Diede, Steven Williams and Matthew Williams, two great-grandchildren, Michael and Macrina Bindernagel; one sister, Donna Magedanz; one brother and wife, Claydon and Marion Polzin.
Preceded in death by daughter, Anita Hood; grandson, Benjamin Hood; parents, Carl and Fenna Polzin; two brothers, Rodney and Lyle Polzin; one sister, Marguerite Gilbert and brothers-in-law, Charles Magedanz and David Gilbert.
There are no services planned.