Earlin Glenn Engen, age 81 of Circle, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Prairie County Nursing Home in Terry, MT.
Earlin was born on November 28, 1934 in Glasgow, MT, the first son of Glenn and Freda (Sievers) Engen. He lived there until 1937 when the family moved to Old Vida. A special birthday present arrived on Earlin’s 4th birthday when his brother Gene was born. Earlin took his father’s hand and said he wanted to go to the store and buy his new brother a rattle snake. What he actually meant was a rattle which they purchased and Gene still has to this day. In 1943 the family moved to the farm five miles south of Vida where he resided until moving to Circle in the early 1980’s. Earlin attended school in Vida and then in Circle. Like so many in those days, he stopped his formal education after the 8th grade to work on the farm. In 1955 he began driving school bus for Engen and Sievers Bus Service until he and Gene shipped out for military training in 1958 with the 163rd Armored Calvary of the MT National Guard. Earlin served for six years and another two years on standby until he was honorably discharged. After training he returned to the farm and he continued to farm with his parents and his brother Gene. In 1970, Glenn, Earlin and Gene became partners in the Engen and Sons School Bus Service. They continued to contract and drive buses along with farming until 1981 when the buses were sold. He continued to drive for Hinther Transportation for several years thereafter. In 1984 at the age of fifty, Earlin married Holly Thoeny and he welcomed Holly’s seven children as part of his family. He loved his two nieces, Melanie and Melissa Engen and enjoyed his relationship with them. Earlin loved his coffee crews in both the Circle and Terry communities. He had quite the tractor collection and loved to do word searches. Chocolate milk shakes and orange pop were on the top of his list when it came to a sweet treat.
He was preceded in death by his parents Glenn and Freda Engen. He is survived by his wife Holly; Holly’s children: Kevin (Myra) Thoeny and his daughter Tina; Kim (Jay) Johnson; Cindy Johnson and her children Tessa & Trevor; Dustin Thoeny and his children Shayna, Alexis & Marla; Wendy Thoeny and her children Damian & Jovanni; Tara Thoeny and her daughter Adriene; and Tami (Rob) Gunsch; his brother Gene (Alice) Engen and children Michael Ault, Melanie (Dwayne) Jacobs and daughters Meghan and Morgan & Melissa (Curt) Knudson and son Kane.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Terry, MT. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Evangelical Church in Circle, MT with visitation prior to the service at the church from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Circle. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the family for a monument in Earlin’s honor.
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday April 10, 2016
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Terry, Montana 59349
Visitation
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Monday April 11, 2016
Circle Evangelical Church
Circle, Montana 59215
Interment with Full Military Honors
Monday April 11, 2016
Riverview Cemetery
Circle, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday April 10, 2016
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Terry, Montana 59349
Visitation
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Monday April 11, 2016
Circle Evangelical Church
Circle, Montana 59215
Interment with Full Military Honors
Monday April 11, 2016
Riverview Cemetery
Circle, Montana 59301
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Carol Larsen says
Gene and Alice, I just got the news today that this is Gene’s brother. I am so sorry
to hear of your loss. May God give you and your family comfort. Love Carol Larsen
Denise (Strand) Stambaugh says
Dear Engen families,
May God grant you peace, comfort and strength during this time of sadness.
Red & Daisy Langton says
May the God of peace surround you with His loving arms at this time of loss. Earlin left so many good memories which a) of uus who knew him will be recounting.
Red & Daisy Langton says
May the God of peace surround you with His loving arms at this time of loss. Earlin left so many good memories which all of us who knew him will be recounting.
Jessica Bradley says
Thinking of you all. I have many fond memories of Earlin as our bus driver.
Judy (Hawkinson) Fuchs says
Thoughts and prayers are sent your way, Holly, as you say good-bye to Earlin. He was always so friendly and soft spoken and was very happy to have you in his life. I’m sure you will miss him so very much. God bless all of your family.
John & Judy Metts says
Such a sad time for your family. I have many memories of riding on the Brockway School bus with Earlin as the driver. He always had a smile on his face. May God surround you with his loving peace and love..
Laura Wittenberg says
Dear Holly and Family, Gene and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Earlin was a very nice person. I’ve known him since childhood, as I grew up in the Vida area also. After moving to Circle, he always stopped to visit when seeing him on the street or at church, or the post office. Holly, take care, and God wrap His loving arms around you at this time and in the days to come.
God Bless
Laura Wittenberg
Maude Loewenstein says
Hello, My thoughts are with your family also. I remember him as a bus driver for the Circle School. Bye, Maude Loewenstein
Don & Nancy Moos says
You are all in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Earlin was a kind and gentle man with a smile for everyone. We were all blessed to have had him touch our lives.
Don & Nancy Moos
Vi Schiffer says
Holly and family, Gene, Alice and family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Earlin was always such a nice, quiet gentleman. Circle was fortunate to have the Engen guys driving buses for them. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Rest in Peace, dear Earlin. Vi Keeler Schiffer
Christoph Mühle says
My Name is Christoph Mühle,
I was an exchange student from Germany in the years from 1999 to 2000. During that time, I lived with Holly and Earlin, the two were my host parents.
I remember fond memories of that time, both were always friendly and helped me with everything wherever they could. Earlin was such a friendly, warm person, you had liked to have him easily.
My full condolence to Holly and the rest of the family.
May God protect you.
Rest in Peace, dear Earlin.
Christoph Mühle from Dresden, Germany.