Carol Engebretson

Funeral services for Carol Engebretson of Starbuck, MN will be held Friday, January 11, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Starbuck, MN.  Reverend Fran Hill will be officiating.  Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck, and for one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Carol Lavonne Sansness, daughter of Melvin and Hazel (Anderson) Sansness was born on December 12, 1933 in a house near Farwell, MN.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Starbuck.  Carol attended her first year of school in a country schoolhouse not far from her farm home outside of Cyrus.  She then attended Cyrus School where she finished elementary and graduated high school in 1951.  During her school years, Carol was very active in 4-H.  She especially loved showing her jersey calves.  Carol pursued her dream of being an elementary teacher by attending and graduating from St. Cloud State Teacher's College in 1953.  That same year, Carol was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, which she battled for almost 65 years.  Carol was one of the first in Minnesota to get an insulin pump which she had until the last week of her life.  She would always say that she hoped to live long enough to see a cure for Diabetes.

Carol taught second grade for two years in Monticello, MN and then moved closer to home and taught two more years in Ortonville, MN.  On June 22, 1957, Carol was united in marriage to Courtney Engebretson.  The couple made their home between Cyrus and Starbuck, where they farmed, milking cows and raising purebred hogs.  Carol taught 2nd grade and Spring Primary/Kindergarten in Cyrus and later taught in Morris.  She attended and graduated from the UMM, always wanting to learn more and teach young children.

Carol and Courtney's greatest desire was to raise a family so in 1961, they adopted a son, Kent.  Their first daughter, Keri was born the next year but soon died of medical complications.  The very next year they adopted again, a daughter Karla.  In addition to being a loving mother and teacher, Carol's hobbies included baking, playing piano, sewing and quilting.  She especially loved making baby quilts.  She also loved spending time and caring for her four precious grandchildren.  Carol was active in her church and served as a 4-H leader for many years.  Carol expressed to her family many times that the lessons you learn in life can be hard but that faith and family is really what is most important and makes life worth living.

Carol passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 5th, 2019 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, her home since September of 2018.  She was 85 years old.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Courtney of rural Starbuck; one son: Kent (Jeanne) Engebretson of rural Starbuck; one daughter: Karla (Danny) Larson of rural Cyrus; four grandchildren: Garrett Engebretson of Fargo, ND, Tina (Cody) Bauleke of rural Cyrus, Ross (Paige) Larson of rural Cyrus, and Eric Larson of Morris; three great-grandchildren: Joshua Larson, Xeona Bauleke and Brax Larson;  one sister: Patricia Larson of Cave Creek, AZ and one sister-in-law: Irene Sansness of rural Cyrus.   She was preceded in death by her parents: Melvin and Hazel; daughter Keri; brother: Lauren Sansness; nephew: Dean Sansness and parents-in-law: Bernie and Myrtle Engebretson.

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