Mabel B. (Engebretson) Engelby, age 86, of Albert Lea, died Friday, Sept. 22, 2006, at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Vinje, Iowa, with the Rev. Chris Fiske officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Bethel Lutheran Cemetery, Vinje.

Mabel B. Engebretson Engelby was born on Sept. 8, 1920, in Lake Mills, Iowa, the daughter of Albert C. and Marie (Rosheim) Engebretson. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Vinje, and remained an active lifelong member there.

On Sept. 24, 1941, she was united in marriage to Alvin V. Engelby at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Alvin passed away on June 8, 1953.

Mabel only lived in three places her entire life, on the farm where she grew up, the farm where she lived, worked and raised their family, and then in Senior Tower in Albert Lea, after she moved there on Sept. 1, 1991.

She was the No. 1 fan of Scarville Softball and the multiple teams that played there.

Mabel is survived by her children, Richard and his wife Sheryl Engelby of Kiester, Arnold and his wife Wanda Engelby of Forest City, Iowa, Larry Engelby and Gary and his wife Carol Engelby, all of Albert Lea, Robert &8220;Bob&8221; Engelby of Lake Mills, Iowa,

and Don Engelby of Tucson, Ariz.; four grandchildren and their families, Chris and his wife Patti Engelby and their son Blake of Center Point, Iowa, Stephanie Engelby and her children Christine and Thomas of Kiester, Rebecca Engelby of Shoreview, Jeri Moore and her children, Jason Zielske and Wendy Moore, all of Forest City, Iowa, Jamie and his wife Jessica Zielske of Vinje, Iowa, Jill and her husband Mike McGary and their children Daniel, Matthew and Travis of Kiester; a special childhood friend that she had remained in contact with all her life, Loretta Bendickson of Huntsville, Ala.; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Mabel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alvin; one grandson, Eric in infancy; and one granddaughter-in-law, Robin Engelby.