Alva Engebretson

Funeral services for Alva Engebretson of Starbuck, Minnesota, will be held on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Starbuck, Minnesota, with Reverend Michael Hanson officiating.  Visitation will be held Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.  Burial will be at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Starbuck, Minnesota.

There will be a live stream of Alva’s service starting at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021.  To view the service on the Starbuck Funeral Home website, scroll to the bottom of Alva’s page and click on the link.

Alva Mae Engebretson (Stadsvold) was born on May 27, 1928 to Judin and Dora (Benjaminson) Stadsvold in Rolling Forks Township, Pope County Minnesota.  Alva was baptized June 11 in East Zion Lutheran Church.  She completed 8th grade in a country school.  Alva was united in marriage to Walter Erlin Engebretson on November 4, 1945 and celebrated a remarkable 72 years of marriage.  To this union three sons were born, Ellsworth John, Ronald Allen and Todd Walter.

Alva was very active in St John’s Lutheran Church and their Ladies Aid since 1945.  She loved to garden and enjoyed her flower gardens.  Alva spent hours mowing her lawn and made it look meticulous.  She was an incredible cook and baker.  You never went to her house without being offered some delicious homemade goodies and coffee…what a wonderful hostess she was.  Alva was the best farmer’s helper, working side by side with Walter on their dairy farm, delivering meals to the field hands, and assisting when an extra hand was needed.  She was very proud of the Minnesota Century Farm designation in 2005.  She loved spending time with her family and friends.

She passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at the West Wind Village after celebrating her 93rd birthday.

Alva is survived by her sons: Ron (Doris) Engebretson of Rochester and Todd (Pam) Engebretson of Starbuck; daughter-in-law: Louise Engebretson of Morris;  seven grandchildren: Terry (Linda) of Cyrus, Troy (Stacy) of Morris, Aaron of Lake City, Brad (Sara) of Rochester, Heidi Bredeson of Rochester, Chelsea (Matthew) of St. Cloud and Sydney (Karle) of Oak Park; eighteen great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law: Dorothy Weicher of Richfield.  She was preceded in death by her husband: Walter; son: Ellsworth; her parents; sister: Rosella; and brothers: Julien and Earl.

Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.