Roger Engebretson

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“When the Saints Go Marching In”....he’ll be among that number (probably playing the trumpet).

Roger Engebretson passed away on Monday, July 14, 2014 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Services will be held at 10:30 on Thursday, July 17 at Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson, SD. Visitation is at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson, Wednesday, July 16 at 6-8 p.m.

Roger Dennis Engebretson was born 11/11/27 at DeVall Hospital at Garretson to Elmer and Lorenza (Stensland) Engebretson. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran in Garretson, and at age three he moved with his parents from the Engebretson homestead in Palisade Township Section 8, to Highland Township Section 18 North of Garretson, where he has since continuously farmed with his dad, brother, and son in livestock and grains. Family, farming, and music were important in his life. Being raised on a farm and working the land is seemingly the closest place imaginable to heaven on earth, a place Roger never wanted to leave. Veteran’s Day 2013 marked his 86th birthday, and 71 years of fall combining following 76 years of springtime planting. Roger attended grades 1-8 in country school with neighbors at Lincoln District 86, and graduated from Garretson High School in 1945. In his youth he raised and showed Hampshire sheep and steers as a member of the Norsemen 4-H, and played on the Garretson softball team. He attended college at SD State. From 1951-1953 he was in the 179th Army Band stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Roger and DeVona (Nesheim) were married in 1956, and raised five children: Cheryl (Steve) Holzapfel, Warren, Beth (Jim) Plahn, Gary, and Cathy (Dan Rux) Engebretson.

Roger’s love of music was shared by many aunts and cousins, and summarized by his remarks while pointing to the piano keyboard, “Look at all those beautiful chords just waiting to be played.” He was accompanist for choirs and the Rock-Minnehaha male chorus, trumpeter in the “Toe Teasers” band, and organist and pianist at Zion Lutheran. For over fifty years, Roger established the tradition of performing a beloved arrangement of Silent Night at Zion’s Christmas Eve services. Roger taught piano lessons to about thirty local students weekly for over a decade. He was a member of the American Legion, performing “Taps” in honor of veterans. Roger served as a member and officer in farmers’ associations, President of the Garretson School Board, and Highland Township board.

He leaves his wife, 4 children, 6 grandchildren (Nancy Holzapfel Kowalke, Alan Holzapfel, Carrie Plahn VanHeel, Tony Plahn, Jonathon Plahn, Joseph Engebretson) and 5 great-grandchildren (Ivy Holzapfel, Rebecca and Kyra Kowalke, Carter and Carmen VanHeel). He was preceded in death by his parents, son Warren in 2012, and brother Clair in 2014.