Mildred Loraine Engel, 96, of Rapid City, died peacefully at Avantara St. Cloud Care Facility in Rapid City on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

Mildred was born April 6, 1925 to Ferrill and Mabel (Campbell) Parmely in Hand County, Miller SD.  She was the third of eleven children and grew up living on a farm. They were all taught to dance early in life and their love of dancing was apparent as it became their primary recreation as a family. Mildred attended country grade school and rode horseback to school never being closer than 2 miles. She helped to take care of Mrs. Zimmerman for room and board while attending Miller High School. After graduation, she worked at Hogan's Grocery in Miller. Later, at the time of a teacher shortage, Mildred took teaching courses at Aberdeen College and received a teaching certificate.

In 1943 she married Melvin Bitterman and they had one daughter, Karen.  They were divorced in June 1947. She then taught country school for three years before marrying Lowell Engel at her parents' home on August 11, 1950. She met him at a dance and dancing continued to be one of the activities they enjoyed throughout their married life.  They lived on the Engel family farm until 1955 when they relocated to Rapid City as co-owners and operators of the Dairy Queen for two years. Mildred and Lowell had 3 more children - Luane, Denise, and Craig. In addition to caring for her own family, she provided daycare and later worked in the laundry at Ramada Inn and then at a fabric store. In 1976 they moved to Black Hawk, SD.  In the 1970s they started fishing and camping and later owned RVs for their fishing escapades and other travels. Following Lowell's retirement they spent their winters in Yuma, AZ where they developed many new friendships and danced 3-6 nights a week. Due to her dementia, sadly, she lived the last 10 years of her life in a care facility separated from her beloved family.

Mildred was a very capable, strong, self-sufficient and hard-working woman with a servant's heart. Because Lowell's work as a truck driver took him away from home much of the time, she was the primary caregiver for her family. She also did daycare in their home for working parents and provided care for other family members throughout her lifetime.  She was a born caregiver and loved to help others. She would set aside her needs to offer help and encouragement to anyone in need.  She was highly organized and a proficient planner. She was an excellent cook and took pride in the cleanliness of her home and her ability to host and feed large groups even on short notice. She was a devoted mother, wife and grandmother who dearly loved her family and dedicated her life to being available for them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a special Uncle Leonard (Swede) Parmely, her brothers, Wayne, Clark, Otis and James and her sisters, Viola Ford, Margaret Stark and Lenarda Swaney, her daughter, Karen (and Frank) Spiczka, her grandson, Stan Spiczka and her great grandson, Dalton Lambrecht.  Survivors include her husband, Lowell; 3 children, Luane (and Bob) VanderBerg, Denise (and Ron) Wing, and Craig (and Annette) Engel plus 7 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, Marles Dean and Beth (and Jack) Engel and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be directed to the family or to Alzheimer's Association South Dakota Chapter, 4304 South Technology Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57106

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 1:00 pm, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. A reception with snacks and beverages will follow at Canyon Lake United Methodist Church.