February 28, 1935 ~ January 26, 2020 (age 84)
Funeral services for Norma Engebretson of Starbuck, Minnesota, formerly of Cyrus, Minnesota, will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cyrus, with Reverend Chris Richards and Minister Minette Stalheim Johnson officiating. Visitation will be Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at St. Petri Cemetery in Cyrus, Minnesota.
Norma Jean Showalter, daughter of Roy and Agnes (Harder) Showalter, was born February 28, 1935 in Rural Fulda in Murray County, Minnesota, where she grew up and attended country school. In 1950, her family moved to rural Starbuck where she continued her schooling, graduating from Cyrus High School. She was united in marriage to Forest Engebretson on September 10, 1953. The couple built a new house on the family farm, where they continued to farm with Forest’s family, until their retirement in 1991. Forest passed away September 25, 2014. Norma continued living on the farm until September of 2018, when she moved to Holly Ridge in Starbuck, where she continued to live until the time of her death.
Norma was a very active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cyrus, the Morris American Legion Auxiliary and the Flying Farmers, where she served as queen. She traveled all over the world with her husband, Forest. She enjoyed camping, gardening, flowers, baking for the holidays and playing cards with family and friends.
Norma died on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at Holly Ridge in Starbuck. She was 84 years old.
She is survived by one brother: James Showalter of Bloomington; one sister: Jeanette (Eldon) Ellingson of Paynesville; sisters-in-law: Sharon Showalter of Glenwood and Maurine Aslakson of Hancock; brother-in-law: Courtney Engebretson of Starbuck and several nieces and nephews and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Forest; her parents; one sister: Ida Pooch and three brothers: John, Donald and Doug Showalter.
Starbuck Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences to the family please visit www.starbuckfh.com.
