Julie Marie (Engen) Hedstrom, 48, died Dec. 27, 2005, in Minneapolis. A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m., Jan. 8, 2006, at Grace Lutheran Church in Andover, Minn.

Julie, the daughter of James and Lavon Engen, was born and raised in Minneapolis. She graduated from Southwest Minneapolis High School (1976), received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Moorhead State University (1980), and earned her Master of Science degree from St. Cloud State University (2001). Her focus was in Special Education. She had a passion for reading and language skills development.

Julie was a member of the Moorhead State University volleyball team from 1976 to 1979, earning four years of All-Conference awards and All-State honors as a senior captain. Her first teaching assignment was in the Albert Lea Public Schools from 1981 to 1984. She has been a special education teacher in the Anoka-Hennepin Schools, District 11, for the past nine years, spending time at Ramsey Elementary and Coon Rapids Middle School. Her friendly smile will be missed greatly by students and staff. Julie had spent the previous 12 years as a stay at home mom, building a loving family with her husband and three daughters. We will continue to remember her smile, her love, and her daily reminder to &8220;Make Today Special.&8221;

Julie is survived by Chuck, her husband of 25 years; three children: Natasha, Alicia, and Kassie; her mother, Lavon Engen; her brothers, Scott and Stuart with their families; and her husband’s family: Carl, Eva, Linda, and Steve. Julie was preceded in death by her father, James.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be made to the family for later direction to Grace Lutheran Church, Abbott Northwestern Hospital Station 20 ICU, and KTIS radio of Northwestern College.