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Albert Engstrom (Al) peacefully passed away in his sleep at his family home on December 27th, 2005. He was born May 4, 1913 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He was the youngest son of Peter John Engstrom and Fredricka Paulson, who came to America from Norway and Sweden in the fall of 1889.
He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1937 with a Degree in Forest Management. On July 29, 1939, he married Maxine Jeanette Bradley, who he had met at the University. She remained his life-long soul-mate and sweet-heart for their 62 year marriage. Together, they lovingly raised four children in Bethany, Oklahoma; their home for the next 60 years. She preceded him in death in 2001.
His professional passion, Forestry, served Oklahoma and the nation well. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living fellow in the Society of American Foresters, having joined that organization in 1933. During his 40 year career, he hired and mentored many of those leading the profession today. Upon his graduation, he accepted a position with the Oklahoma Forestry Division where he created the first state tree nursery in southeastern Oklahoma in 1939.
He took a leave of absence from Oklahoma Forestry in 1941 to join the Army Air Corp where he first learned to fly the Curtis Biplane and later became a flight engineer for the B-29. He said that the two most important things he learned in the Army were "how to peel potatoes and how to polish the brass in the latrines." He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1944 and returned to Oklahoma to continue his Forestry career.
He picked up where he left off before the war, helping Oklahoma farmers plant shelterbelts in an effort to stem the effects of the great dust storms that plagued Oklahoma in the late 1930s and 1940s. This program, which he spearheaded, was recognized in Oklahoma History as one of the most significant programs that helped end "The Dust Bowl Era" for the state and the southwestern United States. During this time he became a radio show talk host on WKY AM each Saturday morning during the "Farm Hour," sharing techniques for planting shelter belts, controlling erosion, and improving wildlife habitat throughout the state he so loved. He purchased the first state airplane from GSA surplus and used it for early fire detection activity in southeastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. This program became a model program copied throughout the United States for the using aircraft to fight wild fires and was recognized by the US Forest Service as one of the great pioneering efforts to coordinate air-ground activities against wild fires across the United States.
His professional accomplishments were a small portion of his life. He valued honesty, integrity, and hard work. He served his community in many capacities, frequently emphasizing the treasures contained in the outdoors. His legacy includes the "Red Bud" gateway that beautifies the main thoroughfare in Bethany. His faith played a centering role throughout his life. He helped originate and lead May Avenue Methodist Church as a lay leader for over 50 years. He always looked forward to Sunday as a way to "recharge his spiritual batteries for another week." He instilled a "true North" moral compass in his family, focused on the rock-solid core values of honesty, boundless and nonjudgmental love, empathy for others and personal independence.
He got to know and love his grandchildren and great grandchild and left behind many good friends, both personal and professional.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Maxine, and all nine of his brothers and sisters. He is survived by his children, son Peter and wife Susan of Severna Park, Maryland, daughter Bonnie and husband Stan Holley of Rocklin, California, daughter Betty Powell of Lincoln, California, and son David and wife Vicky of Great Falls, Virginia; four grandchildren, Charles and wife Lisa, Anna, David Kucera and wife Rebecca, and Michael Powell, and one great grandchild, Rachel, daughter of Charles and Lisa.
He loved his God, his family, his friends, and his profession. He was loved and respected by all. His wish late in life was that he would "pass quietly in his own home, in his own bed, at peace with the world." This wish came true early in the morning of December 27th, 2005 with his family at his bedside as he moved on into the sunlight.
His family will celebrate an uplifting memorial service of his life on January 22nd, 2005 at the May Avenue United Methodist Church, 23rd and May Avenue, at 3pm in the afternoon. All are welcome.
Interment will be in the Rochert Memorial Cemetery, near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Red River Hospice of Oklahoma City, 3525 N.W. 23rd, OKC OK 73107 or to May Avenue United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 2604 N. May Avenue, OKC OK 73107.
MERCER-ADAMS
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