The Memorial Service for VirGene A. “Gene” Engebretson, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Dan Baker will officiate. Military Honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran’s Organizations. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea.
Gene died Jan. 1, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Center in Albert Lea. He was 81.
He was born on May 22, 1927, in Kiester, the son of Clarence John and Elvina (Aske) Engebretson. Gene served our country in the U.S. Navy from 1945 until his honorable discharge in 1947.
He married Selma A. Kastner on March 15, 1953, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kiester. Following their marriage the couple made its home in Kiester. Gene was a buttermaker in the Kiester and Blue Earth areas from 1953 until 1959 when he began working at Streater in Albert Lea. It was at this time the family moved and made Albert Lea their home. Gene retired from Streater in 1990 after serving as director of distribution.
Gene had served on the Bancroft Township Board for 23 years, was a 45-year member of the American Legion and a member of First Lutheran Church.
He enjoyed playing pool and cards and anyone that knew Gene knew that he was a very avid golfer.
Gene will be greatly missed by his family; wife, Selma of Albert Lea; children: Lance A. Engebretson and his wife Debbie of Albert Lea, Cheryl L. and her husband Buck Christensen of Albert Lea, Diane K. and her husband Terry Gordon of Albert Lea, and Kathy J. and her husband Daniel DeBoer of Clarks Grove; grandchildren: Dillon Gordon, Krista Stillings, Jace, Bryce and Toni DeBoer; brothers: Claude Engebretson of Kiester, James Engebretson and his wife Wanda of Kiester; sisters: Marcene and her husband William Moore of Mason City, Iowa, and Ruth Ann King of Conifer, Colo.; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Margaret Simonson of Kiester, Carl Kastner and his wife LaVon of Winnebago, Richard Kastner and his wife Darleen of Sugar Land, Texas, Loren Stolt of Mankato, Doris Kastner of Fairmont; an uncle Vernon Aske and his wife Marie of Hopkins, aunt Pauline Aske of Albert Lea and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Elvina Engebretson.
In lieu of flowers memorials suggested to Crossroads Community Hospice or Peace and Power of First Lutheran Church.