Harold William Engebretsen, 67, of St. George, Utah, passed away Tuesday, May 30, 2017 in his home after the end stages of Muscular Dystrophy. He was born December 14, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois to Frank and Vicky (Atlas) Engebretsen. He married Kathryn Lee Jaquish on August 18, 1978 in Manti, Utah. He is the son-in-law of Michael and Merna Jaquish of Athens, Tennessee.

Harold was raised in Chicago, where he participated in The Flying Dutchmen Drum and Bugle Corp and Sea Scouts during his years attending Lindblom High School. After graduating from High School, Harold attended college at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Harold took time out from his schooling to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Alabama-Florida Mission.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science in 1976. He later earned his Master’s Degree in Food Science from Brigham Young University in 1980, and was only a few credits shy of a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University when he was recruited to work in Salina, Kansas at Tony’s Pizza Factory, a subsidiary of Schwan’s Sales Enterprises.

Harold’s career in Food Science spanned over twenty years, and he was well-respected in his field. He was the Director of Product Development for Schwan’s, where he led his department to develop and improve many food products, including Tony’s frozen pizzas. After leaving the company in 1996, Harold and Kathy relocated their family to St. George, Utah. Harold worked as an independent consultant for several years, and his career allowed him to travel the world.

Harold and Kathy raised five children, mostly while they lived in Salina, Kansas, but also after their move to St. George, Utah. Harold was an active dad, and he enjoyed attending his children’s sports events, performances, and activities.

After retiring from consulting, Harold began to teach as an adjunct professor at Dixie State University in Southern Utah, teaching an introduction to Biology lab class for 15 years. He and his wife Kathy co-taught the course for 10 of those years. He was loved and respected by both his students and the other instructors.

Harold was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Jaquish Engebretsen and by his brother, Norman (Debbie). He is survived by his brothers, Tony (Ann) Norkus of Mokena, Illinois; Tom (Mary) Engebretsen of Salina, Kansas; and his sister Sally (Charlie) Kaminski of Mokena, Illinois. He is also survived by his five children: Amy (Larry) Mockridge of Henderson, Nevada; Kristen Engebretsen of Takoma Park, Maryland; Michael (Michelle) Engebretsen of Portland, Oregon; Sam (Linda) Engebretsen of Washington, Utah; and Charles Engebretsen of St. George, Utah. There are eight grandchildren: Mercedes, Chandler, and Katelynn Blad of Henderson, Nevada; Sofia Ayala of Takoma Park, Maryland; Lily Engebretsen of Washington, Utah; and Ethan, Logan, and Xander Mockridge of Henderson, Nevada.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 in St. George, Utah. Harold will be buried in a family plot next to his wife Kathy at the Cedar Grove Cemetery on S. Hill St. in Athens, Tennessee on June 21, 2017 at 11:00AM.

As Harold and his wife Kathy were lifelong learners and educators, the family welcomes donations in their memory to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund:give.Ids.org/pef.

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