Longtime FVCC leader dies at 78

John D. Engebretson, a longtime member of the board of Flathead Valley Community College, died Sunday. He was 78.

Engebretson had served on the board of trustees for more than 18 years and was board chairman for nine terms.

He was honored with the college's prestigious Eagle Award in May 2009 for his outstanding contributions to the community college.

FVCC President Jane Karas acknowledged Engebretson on Monday as "a great advocate for the college."

"It's a great loss for not only the college but also the community," Karas said at the July board of trustees meeting. "He will be greatly missed."

She said he had served on the board, several times as chairman, from the time she started at the college as vice president and then when she became president.

"He was always there for me to provide counsel and advice," she said.

Robert Nystuen, current board chairman, recalled that Engebretson was honored with the Eagle Award as well as the mentor's award. He said it was difficult for him to resign this spring when his health was failing since the college played the most important role in his life in his later years.

Trustee Mark Holston said he knew Engebretson for 30 to 40 years. He recalled when he worked in broadcasting sports in the valley and had a wonderful voice that set a standard for others in the field.

He said Engebretson was recognized as a leader in the community as well as at the college where Holston experienced his leadership.

"He approached those duties even-handedly," Holston said. "He conducted meetings very professionally."

Shannon Lund was picked by the board to fill Engebretson's vacated seat and was then elected by the public to complete his term. She said she appreciated his call to congratulate her.

Engebretson was a native of Kalispell and attended Flathead County High School, where he was active in speech, drama and band. He later attended St. Olaf College, a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minn., where he majored in speech and economics.

After serving two years in the Army, Engebretson took a part-time job broadcasting Flathead sports on KGEZ. He also formed a partnership with his brother-in-law to take over his father's gravel operation, which they ran until 1969.

Later, he was employed at the Montana Job Service in Kalispell for 21 years. He spent most of his career working in job training before retiring as a supervisor in 1999.

He joined the board of FVCC in 1991 when the college was beginning its expansion and saw it through two tumultuous and challenging decades, including a major expansion project.

Services are pending. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family. A full obituary for Engebretson will be published in the Daily Inter Lake later.