Deborah Engel

Deborah Christine

(Schmaltz) Engel, of Vel-

va, ND, died on Monday,

January 17, 2022 at Trini-

ty Hospital after a long

battle with multiple

health issues.

Deborah was born on

September 17, 1951 in

Minot to Edward and Nor-

ma Schmaltz (Holte). She

was raised on the family

farm in the Velva/Bergen

area. She was often a

“little stinker” according

to her dad when she was a

little girl that carried on to

her high school years. She

was the only girl in the

family with 5 younger

brothers. She attended

primary school in Bergan

and graduated from Velva

high school. While in

high school she partici-

pated in cheerleading,

chorus, FHA, and spend-

ing time with her friends.

She also loved to dance,

especially with her dad.

After high school, she at-

tended Jacks school of

hair design in Minot.

Deborah was married to

Ken Shaw from 1972 to

1987. Their union was

blessed with two beautiful

children, Jennifer and

Eric. They initially made

their home in Minot and

later in Surrey. She spent

these years as a

stay-at-home mom, rais-

ing their children. Like

the women that came be-

fore her in her family she

had many hobbies and

talents. She was quite a

seamstress and would

often make clothing and

the most wonderful Hal-

loween costumes for her

children. Her home was

always open to the neigh-

borhood children to come

and hang out. She was a

very fun mother who

would lay out in the front

yard to watch shooting

stars and the northern

lights with the kids as

well as have Godzilla

movie marathons. The

family would go on camp-

ing vacations visiting the

Midwest.

Deborah and Jennifer

moved to Velva in 1987.

Later she met and was

married to Norman Engel

from September 23, 1992,

till the time of his death

January 21, 2021. Togeth-

er they enjoyed hunting,

fishing, ice fishing and

camping. They both en-

joyed being outdoors and

supported multiple

wildlife organizations.

She was known for her

meticulous dressing of

game, especially deer. She

also enjoyed gardening,

both vegetables and

flowers. She canned the

produce from her garden

and made salsa and

homemade sour kraut.

She was an amazing cook

and made Norwegian and

German dishes. She had

many friends who thought

of her as family. Her and

Norm would often have

friends over to hang out in

the garage and enjoy a few

beers and laughter. She

also had a love of cats-

Buffy, Babs, and Buster

were her babies. She al-

ways said cat hair was an

accessory. She enjoyed a

good football game and

was a fan of the Vikings

and Bison. Her grandchil-

dren would enjoy hanging

out with grandma Deb

and grandpa Norm who

would take them on ad-

ventures, usually at the

Velva park.

Deborah was survived

by: her dad, Edward

Schmaltz of Voltaire; chil-

dren, Jennifer (Brian)

Woiwode and Eric (Ange-

la) Shaw, both of Minot;

brothers, Richard (Mari-

an) Schmaltz of Minot,

Cory Schmaltz of Velva,

Roger (Emily) Schmaltz of

Voltaire, and Greg

Schmaltz of Ruso;

grandchildren, Christo-

pher Swartwout, Collin

(Ali) Wible, Robert (Chris-

tine) Wible, Aunnah

Shaw, Lainee Shaw, and

Mylah Shaw, all of Minot;

and great-grandson, Bent-

ley Shaw of Minot; as well

as many aunts, uncles,

nieces, nephews, cousins,

and friends.

Deborah was preceded

in death by: her mom

Norma (Holte) Schmaltz;

husband, Norman Engel;

brother, Jerome Schmaltz;

maternal grandparents,

Arthur Holte and Bernice

(Chilson) Holte; and

paternal grandparents, Joe

Schmaltz and Barbara

(Junt) Schmaltz.

The Vigil Prayer Ser-

vice will take place Thurs-

day, January 27, 2022 at

6:30 p.m. at St. Cecilia

Catholic Church in Velva.

The Mass of Christian

Burial will take place Fri-

day, January 28, at 10:00

a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic

Church in Velva.

A Private Interment

will take place in the

spring of 2022 at Holy

Cross Catholic Cemetery

in Velva.

The service will be

video recorded for the

public to view on Friday

evening and can be ac-

cessed by going to the

Thompson-Larson Fun-

eral home website:

www.thompsonlarson

.com

Those wishing to sign

the online register and

share memories may ac-

cess the online obituaries

section at

(www.thompsonlarson

.com).