Sally Ann Engel

Sally Ann Engel, age 87, of St. James, died on September 20, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society in St. James.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James. Funeral will be held at Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James, on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 2:00 pm. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in St. James. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in St. James.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Sally Ann (Brown) Engel was born on February 22, 1937, the only child of Clarence and Maude (Hansen) Brown. She attended St. James High School, graduating in 1955 and was selected as the Homecoming Queen. She worked as a dental assistant for a few years.

On October 11, 1958, she married her high school sweetheart, Myron Engel. They moved to the Engel farmstead in South Branch shortly after they were married. To this union they were blessed with two children-Terry and Patty. While working beside Myron on the farm, she also worked as a Rehabilitation Aide at the St. James Area Rehabilitation Clinic. Sally also continued her love for gardening by working at the Greenhouse and as a member of the Primrose Garden Club. They lived and worked on the farm for almost 50 years, retiring and moving into St. James in 2003.

Sally really didn’t retire after moving to town, she still worked at the clinic. Myron and Sally became members of Augustana Lutheran Church where she was active in the quilt circle, St. Lucia Day, sang in the choir and helped in the kitchen with whatever they needed. They also began to travel more, taking trips whether by car or airplane.  They made several trips to the Black Hills and Yellowstone to snowmobile.

Sally and Myron loved to spend time with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Summers were spent fishing at Garfield Lake in northern Minnesota, camping at Dawson’s in Fairmont, eating at the Channel Inn to feed the ducks. She could convince the grandchildren to pick up sticks for pennies. Sally made her famous frosted sugar cookies for every holiday and some graduations.  She also made disappearing marshmallow brownies and chocolate eclair dessert. Holidays were a Big-To-Do. Many miles were driven while traveling to all 7 grandchildren’s music concerts, plays, and sporting events.

Sally will be missed by many. She is survived by her husband Myron, of almost 66 years; children, Terry (Heidi) of St. James and Patty (Dale) of Harrisburg, SD; 7 grandchildren, Hilary (Jason), Andrea (Luke), Margo (Andrew), Taylor (Talia), Connor (Lesley), Ryan (Amy), and Ross (Sarina); 10 great-grandchildren, Mavrick, Paisley, Hattie, Blake, Nora, Dryden, Henry, Adley, Maryn, and Beaudyn; sister-in-law, Harriet Wright of University Place, WA; nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Maude Brown and siblings-in-law, Bernice (Warren) Quick, Evelyn (Walter) Lupke, and Thomas Wright.