Randy Engen

1966 - 2011

Randy Engen, 44
Dillingham, Alaska,
and Sauk Centre
July 13, 1966 – June 17, 2011

Services celebrating the life of Randy Engen, age 44, of Dillingham, Alaska, and Sauk Centre will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 25, at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, 529 Main Street South, Sauk Centre. The Rev. Dr. Robert Cavanna will officiate. Randy died at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. There will be a visitation from 4 – 8 PM Friday at the Miller-Carlin-Brenny Funeral Home in Albany and again after 10 AM Saturday at the church in Sauk Centre. Prayers and memories will be shared at 7 PM Friday at the funeral home in Albany.
Randy was born at St. Michael's Hospital in Sauk Centre to Maynard and Ann (Kuusinen) Engen. He moved with his family to Steven's Point, WI, in 1975. He survived two bouts of promyelocytic leukemia, which at that time was extremely fatal. During treatments, he missed much of 7th and 8th grade. Nevertheless, he graduated from Steven's Point Area High School (SPASH) in 1985 with a strong B average. He finished three bachelor of science degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie-first in industrial engineering, packaging engineering, and later in graphic arts management. He married Pat (Arnold) Behnen in 2000 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. He obtained teaching certification in career and technical education (industrial technology) from St. Cloud State University in 2005. He had certifications as a welding instructor, welder, NCCR (National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructor, printing service specialist, and advanced small engines instructor. Throughout his life, he continued to work towards a master's degree, first in manufacturing management and then in career and technical education.
Randy worked four years as a Quality Control/ HACCP Coordinator at a food plant in Gaylord, MN; two years as night shift supervisor at Schmidt Printing in Harrisburg, PA; five years in customer service at Nahan Printing, St. Cloud; and one year as a shop teacher in Comfrey, MN. Most recently, he and his wife had returned to Minnesota from their fourth year teaching at Dillingham Middle/High School, where he had written grants for more than $150,000 in updated and donated equipment for the career and technical education program, also partnering with the local university to establish welding and construction Career Pathways programs. He taught beginning through advanced welding, woodworking, CAD, building construction, automotive, small engines, and introductions to woods and metals.
Randy was a member of the Dillingham Education Association, the Alaska Association for Career and Technical Education, Dillingham Trinity Lutheran Church, and Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in Sauk Centre. He loved camping and fishing, joking with friends, and going skijoring with his Siberian husky, Nanook. He is survived by his wife, Pat; his parents, Maynard and Ann Engen, Steven's Point; his siblings Gary (Teri) Engen, Weston, WI and Jean (Randy) Marten, Sun Prairie, WI; nieces and nephews Abby Marten, Mike Marten, Andrew Engen, Jordan Engen, and Kira Engen. Step-children and grandchildren: Nancy (Teddy) Gaillas, Alex and Keira, New York City; Christine Behnen and Yair, Los Angeles, CA; Henry Behnen, Brooklyn, NY; Theresa (Clay Ruby) Behnen, Brooklyn, NY; and Robert Behnen, Osaka, Japan; also uncles and aunts.
Randy is preceded in death by his grandparents.