Obituary of Muriel Katherine Engen

Muriel K. Mueller was born on August 9, 1920 in Philip , SD to Leon and Dorothy (Phillips) Mueller. She moved with her family to Pierre , SD and later to Oakes , ND where she graduated from high school. She earned a degree from the Dakota Business College and worked in accounting until she responded to a call for volunteers for the defense effort during World War II. She entered the United States Navy on May 27, 1944 as part of the “Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) group. She served for nearly two years as a Radioman, earning a meritorious conduct award. While in the Navy Muriel met her future husband and fellow Radioman, John Engen, while stationed on Bainbridge Island . She was honorably discharged on February 11, 1946 . Muriel and John were married on March 24, 1946 in Oakes , ND . She helped support John while he completed his undergraduate degree (ND) and graduate degree (IL), before moving to Washington State in 1952. While raising four children the family moved from Washington State to Florida , Alabama , back to Washington State , and then Virginia . In 1969 she and John moved back to the Evergreen State and set down roots in Lakewood where she resided for 40 years. Muriel enjoyed traveling, camping, hiking and spending time with family and friends. She was very committed to helping others, volunteering and financially supporting many charitable organizations. She was a volunteer at Lakewood General Hospital (now St. Clare Hospital) for many years before being hired as the hospital’s Volunteer Services Coordinator, a position she held for 15 years before retiring in 1990. After John, her husband of 60 years, passed away in 2006, she welcomed her dog, Joni, as the newest member of the family and her constant companion ever since. She is survived by her three siblings: Meva Gottschalk, Dick (Pat) Mueller and Fran Jones and by her children Susan Scott, Nancy Engen (Cordell Hauglie), Cheryle (Mark) Hendrickson, and John Engen (Lisa Spahr) and by her grandchildren Lisa, Tracy, Amy, Jason and Jamie and great-grandchildren Sophie and Alexa A celebration of her life will be held at 2 pm , Saturday, December 19, 2009 at Narrows Glen, 8201 6th Avenue , Tacoma , WA . The family suggests memorials be made to one of her favorite charitable organizations: Heifer International, PO Box 6021 , Albert Lea , MN 56007 Doctors without Borders, 333 Seventh Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001 World Vision, PO Box 70224 , Tacoma , WA 98481 Fish Food Bank, 1224 South I Street, Tacoma , WA 98405