In 1954, Harold and Edith and four children drove to Alaska for a vacation. In 1959 they came back to homestead on the Anchor River. Harold had a dream and Edith was a willing follower. They lived two miles off the road, without power and modern conveniences, for several years. Edith was a good homestead homemaker and met all of the life’s challenges — she even bagged a moose in her yard. She home schooled her children for four years.

Later, Harold started commercial fishing and Edith spent her summers close to the side band radio so she could hear from Harold and fetch boat parts. Before cell phones, she was the lifeline for many fishermen and their wives at WKD34 Homer.

During those fishing years, Harold and Edith spent a number of winters serving as missionaries in the Philippines and on a Mercy Ship to Africa. Edith especially enjoyed spending time at Boracay in the Philippines with fellow missionaries Ernie and Linda Rebb.

In 2002, Harold and Edith moved to northern Idaho. They still returned to the homestead often to visit their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Edith so enjoyed all of the hugs.

She loved her Lord with unwavering joy. Her gentle spirit will be missed, but she is now delighting in the presence of Jesus.

Edith was preceded in death by her sister, Pearl Self; brothers Don Patrick, Buss Patrick and Jim Patrick; and grandson Nathaniel Mattson.

She is survived by her husband of 59 and one half years, Harold Engebretsen; brothers Bill Patrick and Delmar Patrick; daughters Marla Weisser and Rhonda Mattson; sons Kerry Engebretsen, Allen Engebretsen and Gene Engebretsen; 36 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren.