Lloyd Kermit Engen

Lloyd Engen, 87, of Clearbrook, Minnesota died on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, June 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota with the Reverend Michael Wright officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held at the Seljord Cemetery at Clearbrook, Minnesota. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
Lloyd was born on November 24, 1937, at Clearbrook, Minnesota the son of Ole and Sarah (Brandvold) Engen. He had five sisters and five brothers and was the second youngest in the family. Lloyd was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He attended Beard Country School and graduated from Clearbrook High School in 1956. Lloyd knew what hard work was at the youthful age of fifteen where he worked at a drug store as a "Soda Jerk", a name for the person at the soda fountain. After High School, he worked as a hospital orderly at the University of Minnesota before attending Bemidji State Teachers College. He worked at the First State Bank in Clearbrook prior to enlisting in the United States Army because he was going to be drafted. Lloyd served our country in the Vietnam War for three years, stationed in Alaska with some of the early computers. He kept track of all the equipment and machinery in the Alaskan Command. After his Army career, in 1962, he sailed the Great Lakes on a ship as a Boat Basin, Wheelsman and Boatswain. The boats held iron ore and were six hundred feet long. In 1968, he began his career at Lakehead Pipeline, as an operator and gauger, in Clearbrook (now Enbridge) from which he retired after 32 years, in 2000. After his retirement, Lloyd worked driving the medivan, and he mowed grass for the City of Clearbrook. He met Phyllis Beckstrand at various activities thru the Clearbrook American Legion. They were married on July 6, 1973, at Clearbrook and the family moved into town. Lloyd was an active member of the Melvin Johnson American Legion Post #256, and has held various elected offices, including Commander, membership Chairperson and was vastly involved with the Legion Color Guard. Lloyd was a helpful member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Clearbrook, where he volunteered for many activities and events. Lloyd's faith was extremely strong and important to him. He was also a member of the Clearbrook Fire Department and former Chief. Lloyd, in addition, was involved with the Food Shelf, Meals on Wheels, the former President of the Clearbrook/Leonard Senior Citizens, and was the Clearwater County Outstanding Citizen (in which he was recognized at the Minnesota State Fair). Lloyd was instrumental in starting the Clearbrook Babe Ruth Baseball Team, and the funding for the Wes Westrum Museum and the Clearwater County Veterans Memorial. Lloyd loved ice cream and enjoyed snowmobiling. Family was most important to Lloyd, especially his grandchildren. His grandkids were everything and he cherished spending time with them. Lloyd & Phyllis traveled to all of their sporting events and games. Lloyd was always contributing to the community, and how his grandson Dylan Goudge once said, "He was a great man with a big heart".
Lloyd is survived by his step children - Daughter – Debby Beckstrand of Clearbrook, Minnesota; daughter – Jeanne (Chris) Cannon of Chisago City, Minnesota; Son – Craig (Patty) Beckstrand of Clearbrook, Minnesota; Daughter – Susie Lene of Clearbrook, Minnesota; daughter – Cheri (Mark) Wilcox of Bemidji, Minnesota; daughter - Trudi (Dale) Hamnes of Clearbrook, Minnesota; Son – Darin (Sharon) Beckstrand of Clearbrook, Minnesota; Sisters-in-law – Shirley Falardeau of Bemidji, Minnesota; Margi Cole of Chaska, Minnesota; Brothers-in-law – Phillip "Ole" (Karen) Johnson of Clearbrook, Minnesota; Don Winter of Waconia, MN; Numerous nieces and nephews.
22-Grandchildren and 37-Great Grandchildren.
Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents; his wife- Phyllis; 10 siblings - Ernest, Walter, Alvin, Marvin, Bob, Allen, Olga, Violet, Ruby and Elvina; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews