Lowell Wayne Engel, 92, of Rapid City, died peacefully at Hospice House in Rapid City, SD following a short battle with cancer.

Lowell was the son of August and Mabel Engel. He was born August 5, 1930 on the family farm near Gann Valley in Buffalo County, SD.  While growing up they had no TV and the only radio they had was powered by a 6-volt car battery.  Consequently, their entertainment was quite limited.  During those years the neighbors would take turns having house dances on Saturday nights where his dad, brothers, and uncle were the musicians.  Lowell learned to dance at age 6 and continued to be an avid dancer and lover of country western music throughout his lifetime.

In 1949 he started dating Mildred Parmely and they were married August 11, 1950 and he then became the father to 3-year old Karen Bitterman (1946).  Mildred and Lowell had 3 more children - Luane in 1951, Denise in 1953, and Craig in 1957.

They lived on the Engel family farm until 1955 when they relocated to Rapid City, SD to start a Dairy Queen business with his brother, Erwin.  After one season, Lowell left DQ to work as a driver/deliverer for 7-Up Bottling Company.  In 1957, he bought his first 18-wheeler and delivered pre-fab houses for Buckingham Wood Products, which later became Midwestern Homes.  In 1961, he purchased a Mac Tool business but unable to sell his 18-wheeler, he sold the tool business and returned to trucking – this time for Sammons Trucking in Midland SD.  As they grew, Sammons relocated to Missoula, MT.  Lowell hauled for them for 9 years and then went to work for Jim Palmer Trucking for 6 years.  The pride he took in his rigs and his driving was apparent in the way he maintained them and the many trophies he won in various competitions.  In 1981, he converted from over-the-road trucking, where he was gone for days at a time to hauling logs in the Black Hills.  In that role he learned new skills in order to operate the loader.  He officially "retired" and sold his rig in 1995 but continued to enjoy over-the-road trucking by driving for various companies around the Rapid City area. During his years as a trucker, he held offices in the Trucker's Association and traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for their needs.

In 1976, they moved from Rapid City to Black Hawk, SD.  In addition to being a member of the Moose Lodge 1137 since 1963, Lowell and Mildred started fishing and camping in the 1970s and later owned 5 ^th wheels and motor homes for their fishing escapades and other travel. Following Lowell's retirement, they spent their winters in Yuma, AZ where they developed many new friendships and danced 3-6 nights a week. Lowell lived alone for over 11 years after Mildred was admitted to a care facility for Alzheimer's in 2011. In March 2018, he gave up his shop, his trike and his boat when he moved to his new home in Rapid City – a place where he was able to walk daily and still enjoy having guests.

While Lowell is gone, he will be remembered as one with a genuine love for life and a party, his many hours on the road to provide for his family, his perseverance and resiliency following broken bones and heart issues, his ability to listen, his laugh, his handyman abilities, sharp mind, ingenuity, and his desire to live life to the fullest.  He is also remembered for his willingness to help others in whatever way he could, the love he had for his family, and his love of traditional country music, dancing, car races and playing games.

Lowell is preceded in death by his wife of 71 years (Mildred Parmely Engel), his parents, his brother, Erwin, his sisters, Tootsie and Arlene, and his stepdaughter, Karen Spiczka, son-in-law (Frank Spiczka), his grandson (Stan Spiczka) and great grandson (Dalton Lambrecht).  Survivors include 3 children Luane (and Bob) VanderBerg, Denise (and Ron) Wing, and Craig (and Annette) Engel plus 7 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, one brother, Jack (and Beth) Engel, sister-in-law, Leona Bebee, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. A reception with a light lunch will follow at Canyon Lake United Methodist Church. If you are unable to attend you are welcome to send condolences to the family through his daughter, Luane VanderBerg, 214 Oakwood Ln, Owatonna, MN 55060.

Memorials can be directed to: Hospice of Rapid City, 224 Elk Street, Rapid City SD 57701 or to, Meals on Wheels Western SD, Western SD Senior Services, Inc., 1621 Sheridan Lake Rd. Suite C, Rapid City, SD 57702