Lois Engstrand

Lois A. Engstrand, 79, of Detroit Lakes, MN died Thursday, May 21, 2009 at her home. The Funeral Service will be 11:00 AM, Tuesday, May 26 at Aspelund Lutheran Church, Flom, MN .with reverend Chad Peterson officiating. Interment will be in the Aspelund Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 – 7 PM with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service Monday, May 25 at the David-Donehower funeral Home in Detroit Lakes and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Lois Adelaide Thorson Engstrand was born August 5, 1929 in Flom, MN to Albert and Jonnette (Dorseth) Thorson. She attended grade school in Flom and one year at Waubun High School. She then moved to International Falls (MN) where she finished high school. Lois worked at a drug store in Fargo, ND for a few years before she moved to Minneapolis, MN where she worked as a secretary for Durowall Concrete Company. In 1967 she met a young man named Raymond Engstrand while taking driving lessons in Minneapolis. They were united in marriage November 2, 1968. They lived in St. Paul after their marriage and moved to Duluth, MN in 1971 where Lois worked for a fur company. Ray purchased ABC Driving School in Duluth. In 1973 Lois started doing the book work for Ray, while Ray and his son trained car and truck drivers. They continued to operate the Driving School for 18 years before selling it in 1987. They continued to operate the truck driving business until 1989 before selling this business also. Lois and Ray moved to Detroit Lakes to enjoy their retirement years together.

Lois enjoyed dancing, reading, walking for exercise, working the Spruce Hill Threshing Bee, and traveling with her husband Ray to various states.

Lois is survived by her husband, Ray of Detroit Lakes; one sister, Jeanniane (Laurel) Aasgaard of Detroit Lakes, MN; sons, Duane (Rhoda) Engstrand of Alma, WI, Dale (Robin) Engstrand of Grand Rapids, MN; daughters, Beverly (Mark) Hathaway of Chetopa, KS, Janet Anderson of Grand Rapids, Carol (Rocky) Cole of Grand Rapids; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; nephews, Stewart, Dean and Paul; one niece, Jane. She was preceded in death by her parents.