Dixie L. Enger

Dixie Lee (Schneider) Enger, 73, joined loved ones and friends on July 25, 2014. She bravely fought ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), but handled it with Grace and the Faith of the Saviour. She was born at St. Luke's Hospital, Aberdeen, South Dakota, on December 5, 1940, the daughter of Chester and Claudia (Aman) Schneider, the oldest of their three daughters; her sisters were Sheila "She" Brown-Patten and Rocky Lindemann. All of her childhood was spent in Roscoe, South Dakota. In 1958 she graduated from Roscoe High School and was valedictorian of her class. She also was a cheerleader in her high school years and in 2008 was able to wear her cheerleading uniform in the Roscoe City Parade!

As a young teenager, she assisted in caring for her Grandmother Aman who was dying of a terminal illness and she knew at that time nursing would be her career path. She began her nurses' training in 1958 at Presentation School of Nursing in Aberdeen, South Dakota receiving her diploma and graduating in the top third of her class. In her Senior Year, she was Homecoming Queen. It was a strict and demanding three-year program in Nursing School, but it did not stop her and her nursing class friends from water skiing at Mina Lake and dancing at the Country Dance Hall. She and a classmate were sent to Miller, South Dakota for Rural Nurse's Training in her second year and it was there that she met her future husband, John "Jack" Enger; they were married at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Miller, South Dakota in November, 1961.

Dixie began her nursing career at the Hand County Hospital for five years, functioning in all roles of nursing. In 1967, they moved to Westminster, Colorado where she was employed as Staff Nurse in Obstetrics and Weekend Nursing Supervisor at Valley View Hospital. She later assumed a position in the Cardiac Intensive Unit; while there she mentioned they had to know how to interrupt EKG's as machines at that time did not furnish the heart rhythm and the machines could not tell if the patient was having a myocardial infarction (heart attack). The cardiologist actually depended on the nurse's information on how to care for the patient. The new role of Nursing Manager was implemented and Dixie assumed a position on the Medical Unit while going back to school to receive her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at the University of Phoenix in 1986. In 1987, North Suburban Hospital was the new hospital in the Denver Metro Area and she accepted the position of Nurse Manager of the Oncology Unit and later moved to the Quality Department. She spent a total of thirty years at Valley View Hospital and North Suburban Hospital.

In 1998, she transferred to St. Anthony Hospitals' Quality Department as the Regulatory Compliance Coordinator and later assumed the position of Performance Improvement Coordinator – a position she loved as she had the opportunity to work with great physicians. She also was responsible for the Patient Rights' Joint Commission Chapter and was a member of the Ethics Committee. She said "it felt like she was helping patients and their families." She also had a role in the development of the Palliative Care Program at St. Anthony Central Hospital.

In 2009, after 50 years in the healthcare field, she retired from her nursing career. Her family was the love of her life; she cherished them with her whole heart. Even though her nursing profession was important to her, her family and friends were her first priority and was always there for them in their time of need. She was always grateful to have had them in her life.

Left to cherish her memory are: Ex-spouse and Companion, John "Jack" Enger; Daughters and Sons-in-law: LoriDee (Jay) Joos, Gina (Gary) Lanford, Julie Enger; Grandchildren: Jennifer and Ryan Crump (Father: James Crump), and John Lanford; Great-Grandson: Cooper Basquez-Crump; Sister: Rocky (Jerry) Lindemann; Stepsister: Jo Ann Rogers. Others she was grateful to have in her life were all her other relatives (nieces, nephews, in-laws and their families, etc) as well as all her friends and acquaintances.

She was preceded in death by: Parents, Chet Schneider and Claudia (Schneider) Rogers; Sister: Sheila "She" Brown-Patten; Step-father: Billy Rogers; Aunt: Jean Schneider; Cousin: Vicki Schneider; Nephew: Michael Lindemann; Great-niece: Tava Lindemann; both sets of Grandparents and Great-Grandparents and Nephew: Marc Sisk (Son of Frank and Janet Sisk; Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law) and Niece: Vickie Fountain (Daughter of Anna Donlin; Sister-in-law) and In-law parents: John Mark Enger and Eleanora (Enger) Foreman.

Many will miss her and we hope you will remember & cherish her caring manner, her love for family and friends. She will always be in our hearts and memories. Please celebrate the gift she has given many through her love and friendship.

God Bless and may He be with you!

Remember- Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point!

Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetery, Thornton, CO.