Melvin Kenneth Engebretson was born January 20, 1919 to Martin and Karen Engebretson in rural Marietta, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Augusta Church, Marietta, Minnesota where he was a life long member until his death. He attended Marietta elementary school and then farmed the family farm west of Marietta with his father. On January 26, 1941 he was united in marriage to Mary Louise Jackson and then farmed the Engebretson homestead in South Dakota until 1959 when they moved to Tucson, Arizona.

To this union one son, Douglas Kenneth Engebretson was born. In Arizona he worked in general construction on custom homes in Tucson as a carpenter until becoming self employed when he provided construction services for houses and designed and constructed building additions for the Hacienda del Sol Resort in the Catalina foothills of Tucson until his retirement.

After his retirement in 1985 they moved to The Highlands in Oro Valley, Arizona, a north suburb of Tucson, where he was active in community affairs, holding leadership positions on the Home Owners Association Board of Directors. He and Mary Lou enjoyed traveling and made many trips around the United States. He finally moved to Chicopee, Massachusetts in December 2015 to be close to his son and family. He passed away on 6 September 2016 in Springfield, Massachusetts after a short stay in Baystate Medical Center.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Douglas and Kathleen Stella Engebretson of Sarasota, Florida and South Hadley, Massachusetts, two grandchildren Leif Erik and Kristin Ann Netkovick and husband Michael Thomas Netkovick, great-grandsons Thomas Jackson Netkovick and Andrew Michael Netkovick all of South Hadley, Massachusetts; his brother Norman and wife Betty Engebretson of Marietta, sister-in-law Annabel Engebretson of Madison, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou, parents Martin and Karen Engebretson, 4 brothers and 4 sisters, namely Rector and wife Bernice, Bennie and wife Alma, Stanley, Julius at age 6, infant Judith, Juella and husband Herman Frantz, Gladys (Kruse) Zanke and husbands Clarence Kruse and Gordon Zanke, Judith Jackson and husband Kenneth Jackson, sister-in-law Sena Frantz and brother-in-law Jerry Jackson.

Memorials may be made to the South Hadley Food Pantry, 30 Carew Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, or the South Hadley Public Library, 2 Canal Street, South Hadley, MA 01075.
Curran-O'Brien Funeral Home of South Hadley, MA is in charge of the arrangements. There will be no calling hours. A graveside service and internment will be held in Marietta, Minnesota at a later date.