John David Engebretson, 78
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John David Engebretson, 78, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on July 24, 2011, after a long battle with COPD.
Born Nov. 12, 1932, to Oscar and Jennie Engebretson, he grew up in Kalispell and graduated from Flathead County High School.
He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. He served in G2 Intelligence for the U.S. Army in Germany from 1954 to 1956.
When he returned home he and his brother-in-law continued his father’s gravel crushing business that took them around the state and included building the new railroad and road relocations for the Libby Dam project in Northwestern Montana. After selling that business he worked for the Montana Department of Labor and Industries for over 20 years, and retired as a supervisor at Kalispell Job Service.
From 1958 through 1977, John and Moose Miller announced Flathead Braves high school football and basketball games. They worked very well together as a team and had quite a radio following among sports fans.
Throughout his life, he was actively involved with the Jaycees, Rotary Club, Lions, Toastmasters and other civic organizations. John was elected to the Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees in 1991 and resigned from the board in January 2011 due to failing health. He served as board chairman for over 10 terms. He was also on the Immanuel Lutheran Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2006.
John was preceded in death by his mother and father; sisters, Inez Mostrom and Marcella Peterson; and former wives, Norma Jeane and later, Gayle.
He is survived by his daughters, Debby Kent and husband, Tom, of Globe, Ariz., and Jami Deskins and fiance, Dan Erickson, of Kalispell; and grandchildren, Jake Andrews, Marcella Andrews and Scott Andrews, all of Kalispell.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home handled the cremation per his wishes.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at Calvary Lutheran Church, with a light lunch following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent in John’s name to Calvary Lutheran Church in Kalispell.