Arthur Swift Engebretson was born April 20, 1908, to Knute and Nellie (Sliper) Engebretson, in Ulen, MN, where he was raised and received his education.
Art began working for the railroad in June of 1928 as a building and bridge foreman. He entered the US Army on March 3, 1942, in San Francisco, CA, as a carpenter, and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands for two years where he worked in the mine plant. Art was discharged on October 4, 1945, and he continued his work with the railroad. He was based in Mandan, ND, but made his home on the train as he continued as a "B and B" foreman.
Art married Pauline Stark on February 17, 1956, in Moorhead, MN, and they continued to make their home in Dilworth. Art retired, after forty-five years of service, in 1973 and they moved to their lake home on Toad Lake, near Osage, MN, in 1975. Pauline died on December 25, 1977.
Art spent the winter months in Arizona with his close friend, Ty Eggen. He moved to Moorhead in 1994, when he entered Eventide the Fairmont. In August of 1998, Art entered Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, where he died Wednesday, July 13, 2005, at ninety-seven years of age.
Art is survived by his nieces and nephews, Virginia (Norman) Dufault, and Donna (Tim) Beiseker, both of Crookston, MN, Emily McDowell, and Sandra (Brad) Hemerick, both of Moorhead, Carol (Bernie) Ellsworth, Waskish, MN, Janice (Gary) Olsby, Osage, Kathy Evans, Fergus Falls, MN, Richard (Kristi) Weiss, Fargo, ND, and Herman (Rennae) Weiss, Sabin, MN. In addition to his wife, Art was preceded in death by two sisters and four brothers.
The funeral for Art will be Monday, July 18, 2005, at 2 PM, in Bottolfson Chapel, Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial will take place in Bethlehem Lutheran (North) Cemetery, Ulen.