Irene Pearl Engstrom

Irene Pearl Engstrom, of Ashland, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2009, at Avera McKennon Hospital in Sioux Falls, S,D.

She was born Feb. 7, 1929, in Downing, the daughter of Harry and Nellie (Eggman) Thompson.

She graduated from Spring Valley High School. On Aug. 7, 1947, she married Kenneth Engstrom, in Wilson. In 1975, she graduated from Gogebic Community College as a LPN. For 25 years, Irene worked at the Ashland Health and Rehabilitation Center, retiring in 1997. She saw that her job was to make the residents feel that this was their home.

She was a member of Salem Baptist Church in Ashland. Irene enjoyed music and playing the piano, organ and accordion. She was an avid reader and felt that the high point of her day was when she was having fun with her kids.

She is survived by four children, Dennis (Sherry) Engstrom, Mason, Becky (Mark) DiRienzo, Denton, N.C., Betty (Marten) Kruger, Luverne, Minn., and Lori Engstrom, Eau Claire; six grandchildren, Kristine (Joe) Guski, Mason, Tom (Tina) Engstrom, Green Bay, Michelle (Matt) Bohannon, Winston Salem, N.C., Anne (Scott) Coley, Harrisburg, N.C., Heather Kruger, Hobbs, N.M., and Jonathan Kruger, Luverne; nine great-grandchildren; four sisters, Esther Krueger, Menomonie, Lillian (Wally) Riedel, Hudson, Colleen (Gene) Slama, New Richmond, and Carol (Harlow) Brown, Randolph, N.Y.; four brothers, Ronnie (Donna) Thompson, Thonotosassa, Fla., Galen Thompson, Roberts, Tom (Judy) Thompson, Grey Cloud Island, Minn., and Randy (Selva) Thompson, Springfield, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Kenneth, in 1998.

Funeral services are 2 p.m. Thursday, April 2, 2009, at Salem Baptist Church in Ashland with Pastor Rodney Larson officiating.

Interment will take place in the Greenwood Cemetery in the town of Morse.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at the Roberts Funeral Home in Ashland.

Arrangements are by Frost Home for Funerals in Ashland.