Courtney Engebretson

Funeral services for Courtney Engebretson of Starbuck, MN will be held Tuesday, April 14th at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Starbuck, MN, with Pastor Mike Troen officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 13th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck, and for one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Courtney Mentz Engebretson was born on September 15, 1931, to Bernie and Myrtle (Larson) Engebretson in Starbuck, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Starbuck. He started school at age 4 at District 11 Country School until 7th grade and graduated in 1948 from Cyrus High School at age 16. He played football, basketball and baseball. In October, 1948, he got polio and spent five months in Gillette Hospital recovering. He also started farming that year even though he had been milking cows from the age of six. One of Courtney’s favorites was riding his Palomino horse “Dude.” He raised Dude from a foal and rode him in many parades with the Saddle Club.

Courtney was best known for raising purebred hogs (Chester White/York) all the years he farmed. He loved showing pigs and proudly would tell you that his great grandpa showed pigs at the fair in 1914. Courtney made 4-H a lifelong tradition, starting with showing his own cattle and hogs, then his kids and grandkids and now even his great grandkids are keeping up the tradition. His favorite time of the year was County fair time. He would spend all day every day of the fair volunteering his time. Vacations consisted of the MN State Fair and the Austin Barrow Show. Courtney also believed in giving back to his community. He served on the Pope County Fair Board for more than 30 years and the Pope County Planning Commission for over 25 years in addition to serving on the hospital board and cemetery board for his church. His faith was very important - he was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

On June 22, 1957, Courtney married Carol Sansness from Cyrus. Their greatest desire was to raise a family on the farm, so in 1961, they adopted a son, Kent. Their first daughter, Keri was born the next year but soon died of heart complications. The very next year they adopted again, a daughter Karla. He loved nothing better than spending time with his family. In his later years, his great grandchildren brought him so much joy – he looked forward to their visits.

Courtney passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, his home since August of 2022. He was 94 years old.

He is survived by one son: Kent (Jeanne) Engebretson of rural Starbuck; one daughter: Karla (Danny) Larson of rural Cyrus; four grandchildren: Garrett (Elanda Howard) Engebretson of Fargo, ND, Tina (Cody) Bauleke of rural Cyrus, Ross (Paige) Larson of rural Cyrus, and Eric (Shayla Baken) Larson of Morris; eight great-grandchildren: Xeona, Azena and CJ Bauleke, Brax, Brandt and Brylee Larson, and Joshua and Luke Larson; two sisters-in-law: Irene Sansness of rural Cyrus and Pat Larson of Savage, MN. He was preceded in death by his wife Carol, his parents Bernie and Myrtle Engebretson; daughter Keri; brother Forest Engebretson and sisters Maureen Aslakson and Avonell Raaum; nephews: Dale Aslakson and Dean Sansness and niece: Nancy Raaum; and parents-in-law: Melvin and Hazel Sansness.