Engebretsen, Floyd Family History

FLOYD E. ENGEBRETSEN

by Marie E. Engebretsen

The father of Floyd, Nels Engebretsen came to this country with his parents from Hallingdal, Norway Oct. 12, 1866 at the age of four.   His family lived in Story City, Iowa.    At the age of 24, Nels went to Oregon and worked there for a year before homesteading eight miles east of Harrison, Nebr. in 1887.  He was married to Johanna Miller, who died at an early age, leaving one daughter, Isabella, who died in Oregon October 1974. In January 1904, he and

Emma Klahn, daughter of Karl Klahn were married in Harrison.  Emma was born in Themsdorf, Oldenburg/Hostein, Germany Dec. 26, 1880, her family immigrated to Davenport, Iowa May 21, 1884.   After resid­ing in Davenport, Iowa until March 5, 1885 her father located on a farm three miles northeast of the present site of Hildreth, Nebr. Nine children were born to this union; Carl, John and Helen are making their homes in Sioux County, Nebr.

Harry was killed at the age of 36 in an airplane accident in 1954.  A sister Dora Bung died in 1934 at the age of 28, a second brother Ole, expired in 1920 at the tender age of 12 years following an accident. One other brother, Ralph, died in 1927 at the age of 14 from a ruptured appendix.   Morris, the youngest of the Engebretsen children is making his home with his family in Loveland, Colo.   Floyd Engebretsen was born Oct. 27, 1915 on his parents’ homestead. He learned logging wood and farm with mules and horses from his father and after being on his own, continued to farm with horses for many years.

He attended the rural elementary school approximately three miles west from his house.  It was a rare treat in those days when the youngsters didn't  have to walk to school, even though  his father had bought a Dodge touring car in 1919.

Floyd and Wanda Maxine Hall were married May 13, 1941 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Harrison, Nebr.   Wanda was the daughter of Burtis Hall and Hazel Tullen Hall, born Aug. 12, 1921 at the Wyoming­ Nebraska State line.  She died of leukemia Oct. 12, 1971.  Her father was employed by the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad. On the day of their marriage, the young couple left Nebraska, trailing four horses to the Old Van Tassell Ranch where they made their home for a year. The following year, Wanda and Floyd moved to the Thomas (Bud) Cantrell place, two miles north of Manville, Wyo. For four years he worked on shares and in order to make ends meet, Floyd worked nights during the winter as a roughneck for the Manning and Brown Drilling Company, Lance Creek, Niobrara County, Wyo. In 1946, he moved his family eight miles northwest of Keeline, where he had the opportunity to lease the Joe Bartos homestead with the option to buy.

In 1947, the Clayton Eddy place was offered for sale, which Floyd purchased and he chose to make his home at this ranch. The well-known Chimney Rock landmark is located on this part of his land.  He bought the Joe Bartos homestead in 1948 and in 1949 acquired  the Hardy Lee homestead, adjacent to the C. Eddy place.

Floyd and Wanda were blessed with two sons and one daughter; Nels Wayne, born Dec. 21, 1942 married Lynna Fay Eberspecher­ Almazon at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lusk, Wyo., Sept 11, 1971. Nels has one stepson, Richard L. Almazon, born March 31, 1964, Lusk, Wyo., and one daughter, Cherokee L. Engebretsen born Oct. 4, 1972, Lusk, Wyo. Nels is working at present with his father.

Charles Engebretsen born Nov. 26, 1944 married Mary Amend Sept. 5, 1965 at the Congregational Church in Lusk.    Charles and Mary have one son Merrit D. Engebretsen born Jan. 28, 1968 at Douglas, Wyo. and a daughter Marlisa A. Engebretsen born Dec. 18, 1971, also in Douglas.

The former Hank Amend Ranch, in Converse County, is now the home of Charles (Chuck) and Mary Engebretsen and children.

Patricia L. was born April 27, 1952 in Lusk and married Fred Kagie of Edgerton, Wyo. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, in Casper Aug 13, 1972. Patricia (Pat) and Fred have one son James Kagie, born in Laramie.

Floyd married Marie Otto Dunlap Sept. 14, 1972 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lusk, Wyo.

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