Samela K. Van Engen
March 6, 1952 - May 4, 2008
FAIRMONT -- Samela Kay "Sam" Van Engen, 56, of Fairmont died Sunday at her home.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont. Burial will be at a later date in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. Memorials are preferred to the Sam Van Engen Memorial Fund at Wells Federal Bank of Fairmont for St. Jude's Children's Cancer Research.
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She was born March 6, 1952, in Willmar to Otis and Tillie (Dannen) Bredeson. She attended school in Willmar and graduated from Willmar High School.
She married Joel Van Engen on Sept. 5, 1970, in Clara City. They lived in Willmar and in Blue Earth before moving to Fairmont in 1983. She was a homemaker and sold cosmetics. They also owned and operated Das Lieben Hein, a gift and gourmet cheese shop.
She was a member of Bethel Evangelical Free Church and was the church's wedding coordinator. She also taught women's Bible study.
She is survived by her husband; children: Cory (and Mandy) Van Engen, Shane (and Jennifer) Van Engen, and Lindsay Van Engen (and fiancé Joe Frerichs); three grandchildren; two brothers: Dennis (and Ruthie) Bredeson, and Leon (and Karen) Bredeson; and one sister: Carolyn (and Wayne) Agre.
