Lillian “Lil” (Grode) Engen passed peacefully in her sleep on October 2nd, 2025 at Village Green Senior Living in West Seattle, WA at the age of 96. Lil was born in Butler, SD, to parents Barbara (Bierschbach) and Peter Grode on January 2, 1929.
She grew up on the family farm west of Butler with her parents and six older brothers. After graduating from Bristol High School, she moved to Minneapolis to attend the Minnesota School of Business. Upon completion of her degree, she worked at the Northwest National Bank of Minneapolis.
Lil married Harley Engen on September 5, 1953. Shortly after their marriage, the couple moved to Seattle, WA, where Harley was hired as a Boeing airplane mechanic. They settled down to raise their four children close to St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church, where they became longtime parishioners.
Harley and Lil volunteered and actively participated in their faith community at St. Bernadette’s. The couple helped set up for funerals, Lil volunteered on the church cleaning crew, and she helped launder the altar linens. Harley and Lil often enjoyed attending the church’s senior group meetings, where they were happy participants of many potluck suppers. Lil’s famous lemon meringue pie was always a hit.
After Harley retired from Boeing, they bought a park model in Sun City AZ, taking up the Snowbird lifestyle. Harley and Lil truly embraced the retirement life, attending concerts and dances, taking bus trips to Branson, having dinner and cards with Lil’s brothers and their spouses, and enjoying numerous visits from family and friends. Lil was also a member of the Paradise kitchen band and the billiards team.
Lillian was a woman of many hobbies and interests throughout her life, including gardening, sewing, cribbage, baking, cross stitch, camping, clam digging, bunco, building jigsaw puzzles, watching the Mariners, and spending time with her family.
Harley passed away on October 6th, 2014, one month after their 61st wedding anniversary. In 2019, Lil moved to Village Green Senior Living in West Seattle. There, she enjoyed exercise classes, card making, scenic van rides, special outdoor dinners, and musical events.
She found a new community and friends at Village Green, and even in the last years of her life, Lil was still having fun and experiencing new things with people she loved and who loved her. Lil’s family would like to thank the staff, care givers, and residents at Village Green for welcoming Lil into the community and sharing such beautiful care and friendship with her. They also are thankful to Signature Healthcare and Gentiva, who helped take care of her in the last years of her life.
Lil is survived by her children Gary Engen, Ann (Glenn) Wallace, Julie (Jerry) Allmaras, and Patti (Mike) Fox, brother Ray Grode, grandchildren: Greg Wallace, Mariah Wallace (Adam Bucher), Megan (Zack) Schorr, Jason Allmaras (Samantha Samuelson), Justin Allmaras (Haley Betts), Rachael (Justin) Keena, Adam Fox, Hannah (Ivan) Gaytan, Sarah Fox, Miriam Fox, Abigail Fox, great-grandchildren: Emma Schorr, Madi Schorr, Isaac Keena, Davy Keena, Judah Keena, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harley, her daughter-in-law Molly Engen, and her brothers Jim, Fred, Norb, Walt, and Ralph Grode.
The funeral will be held at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church on November 10th at 11am, and she will be laid to rest with Harley at Tahoma National Cemetery.
Rest in peace, Lil. You were a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, an aunt, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and a friend to many. You will be greatly missed, but your legacy of love, family, and service will never be forgotten by those who were lucky enough to know you.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to say a prayer, build a puzzle, plant a garden, share a smile, visit a park, or walk on a beach in memory of Lil.
What a beautiful picture collection of Lill and her family. Her family loved her dearly . What a joy that she is now with Harley.you all have been blessed.
Frank Schander and Cyndy
God blessed you all with a wonderful Mom. What an awesome legacy she left all of you!
I loved all the pictures. They show all the love she gave and was given by her family and friends.
I loved spending time at your home when I was a little girl because Lil always treated me as if I was another daughter.
Brownies (Girl Scouts) in the basement with our two moms as leaders was so much fun!
God has truly gained a great one and I’m sure God was waiting with open arms at the gates of Heaven for her! ❤️
I did not know Lil well, so this lovely story of her life and loves creates a beautiful picture. I send heartfelt condolences to all the family and friends who loved her. May your memories bring comfort and smiles during this time of mourning and grief.
Lillian and Harley were our neighbors for many years. She always had a smile when all the “kids” would gather and play in the backyard. She will be missed by all of us. She had a wonderful life. R.I.P. Lillian!
I did not know your family well but enjoyed being neighbors and attending St. Bernadettes together. Great montage of pictures.
Our thoughts turn to you today knowing your Mom’s service is today. I am thinking about all the years our Mothers shared their special friendship. I am blessed that Julie and I share a friendship because of them. Hugs to the Engen family today.
Tim L Grode
A proud nephew of a great Aunt and a special person ——that we could all say, like Aunt Lil, the world was a better place because of me!!! A humble Godly human….