Lou Ann H. Engh

Lou Ann Engh, 85 of Westby, passed away peacefully on December 26th at Norseland Nursing Home.  Lou Ann was born on May 28, 1937 at home in Newry, Wisconsin to Julius and Alvia Slette.  She was baptized and confirmed at North Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Newry.  She attended grade school at Rognstad Ridge School in rural Cashton and later attended high school in Westby where she graduated in 1955 alongside her high school sweetheart Frederick (Fritz) Engh.  Fritz and Lou Ann maintained life-long friendships with many of their Westby High classmates.  Lou Ann was a high school cheerleader; she played saxophone in the band and sang in the high school choir.  After high school, she worked as a lab technician for Tri-State Breeders in Westby for many years before retiring in 1999.

Lou Ann was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Fritz Engh, on September 5, 1959, at North Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Newry, Wisconsin.  During the early years of their marriage, Lou Ann took extended time off from Tri-State to raise her family as family meant everything to her.  She was a loving wife and a wonderful caring mother to her five children.  Fritz and Lou Ann were married for 63 years, and it was uncommon to see them apart.

Lou Ann was a very social person and loved playing cards with her friends in several different card clubs. She was an avid bowler and was especially proud to have held the record for high bowling series at Nordic Lanes for many years.   Lou Ann was also very involved in church activities at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church. She was involved in quilting, lefse making, Mary Circle and ELCA Church Women groups among other activities.  In addition, she volunteered at Bethel Butikk and was on the Norseland Nursing Home Auxiliary.

In her later years, Lou Ann enjoyed watching her grandchildren play all kinds of sports and participate in music concerts, dance performances, class plays and many other activities.  She enjoyed attending these events and she was always so supportive and so very proud of their accomplishments.

Lou Ann is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Fritz Engh, children Pam (Mike) Lawton of Cottage Grove, MN; Rod (Shelley) Engh of Westby; Dawn (Paul) Gale of La Crosse; Brad (Rick Niemeier) Engh of La Crosse and Sherri (Scott) Berg of Coon Valley.  She is further survived by grandchildren Lindsey (Sota) Proeung of Cottage Grove, MN; Tyler Mikkelson of Los Angeles, CA; Brooke (Tyler) Hanold of Cottage Grove, MN, Jenny (Eric) Anthon of Waunakee, WI; Jeremy (Sylvia Overgard) Engh of Minneapolis, MN; Jenna (Brehn) Nelson of Hopkins, MN; Brittany (Luke) Ranta of Rockford, MN; Katelyn (Scott) Pierce of Tomah, WI; Sydney (Jake) Kallenbach of New Brighton, MN; Gabriel (Claire) Gale of Minneapolis, MN; Clay (Haley) Gale of Minneapolis, MN; Lauren (Jesse) Liethen of Las Vegas, NV; Taylor (Tyler) Lueck of La Crosse, WI; Brady Niemeier of La Crosse, WI; and Samuel, Jayda and Ava Berg of Coon Valley, WI.  She is also survived by brother-in-law Keith Tainter, sisters-in-law Dorothy Gray, Rachel Wrobel, Esther (Sherman) Erlandson, cousins Annette Melby and Arlene (John) Mitby, 18 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Lou Ann was preceded in death by her beautiful granddaughter Lauren Valentina Berg.  Grandma Lou adored Lauren and she often expressed how much she missed her.  There is comfort knowing the two have shared a glorious reunion in heaven.  Lou Ann was also preceded in death by her step-granddaughter Haley Elaine Mae Fauske whom she was enjoying getting to know before her passing at such a young age.  Lou Ann was also preceded in death by her parents, Julius and Alvia Slette, sisters Eldoris Melby, Marian Tainter and Adeline Dreves, brothers-in-law Ralph Melby, Ted Dreves, LaVerne (Pauline) Engh, Roland (Irma) Engh, Dr. Duane (Myrna) Engh, sisters-in-law Carol (Edwin) Berg, Elnore (Paul) Gilbertson, Margaret (Wayne) Brye, nieces Terrie (Arne) Haugen, Lorie Brown, Shelly Erlandson, great nephew Erik Haugen, great niece Alicia Brown, great niece Tammy DeGarmo, and cousins Aleda Nordlie and Norma Peterson.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 31st at 11:00 a.m. at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Westby.  A visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Burial will follow in the Country Coon Prairie Cemetery.

Lou Ann’s family would like to thank Pastor Alyssa Weaver and Pete Engh for performing the service.  We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Norseland Nursing Home and St. Croix Hospice for their gentle, loving and compassionate care for mom during her stay, and to Seland Funeral Home for assisting us with preparations for Mom’s funeral and burial.  May God bless you all!