Ilene Carol (Ferguson) Engler, age 77, of Walnut Grove, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at Our Hospice of Murray County in Slayton surrounded by her family. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11 at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Visitation will be from 4:00–7:00 p.m. Monday at the Walnut Grove Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will be at the Walnut Grove Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Service – Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Ilene Carol Engler was born April 18, 1945 in Sibley, IA to William and Velma (Watje) Ferguson. She attended the Red, White and Blue Country Schoolhouse in Cottonwood County. She married Arlan Engler December 10, 1960 in Dundee. Together they lived near Heron Lake. Ilene worked at the nursing home for several years before moving to Walnut Grove. There she worked for many years at the grocery store and then at the school in Walnut Grove. Ilene had her own upholstery business. They moved to a farm near Revere and had a hobby farm. Ilene loved her miniature horses! Ilene was a hard worker all her life. She moved to Country View in March 2022. Ilene enjoyed playing softball, reading and doing puzzles. She loved spending time with family and friends – cooking for them, playing Scrabble and cards, especially 500.
Ilene is survived by her husband of 62 years Arlan; children: Dawn (Steve) Lanoue of St. James; Robin Knakmuhs of Tyndall, SD, and Jody (Rob Davis) Lehnhoff of Currie; grandchildren: Joy (David) Rueb of Tyndall, Stephanie (Dan) Cain of Viborg, SD, Candy (Cory) Bjorum of Scotland, SD, Adam (Rose Aulik) Lanoue of Minneapolis, Derek (Brandie) Lanoue of Algonquin, IL, Trace (Miles McMillan) Lehnhoff of Los Angeles, CA, Nicholas Lehnhoff of Atlanta, GA; 10 great grandchildren: Jordan, Skylor, DJ, Jaymison, Alexys, Kyliah, Britney, Patricia, Emersyn & Gemma; 4 siblings: Tom Ferguson of Storden, Joyce Anderson of Maple Grove, Dan Ferguson of Florida, and Ruth (Maury) Ferden of New London; sister in law Darlene Ferguson of Winger, MN; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; siblings: Shirley (Delbert) Johnson, Art Ferguson, and Edie Sieler; sister-in-law Janice Ferguson; brother-in-law David Anderson; and sons-in-law: Loren Lehnhoff and Doug LeClaire.
