Charles Engelke
Charles William Engelke, 95, was born on Feb. 16, 1924, to Albert and Lena (Hanson) Engelke. Charlie was the oldest of three sons. Tragedy struck very early in life for Charlie. In January 1933, a fire took the life of his three-yearold brother Donald and critically burned his mother, who died seven days later. In April 1937, his dad, Albert, died of injuries resulting from a fall from a harrow cart pulled by horses. Charlie and his brother Kenneth were raised by John and Olga (Hanson) Miller. Charlie attended grade school at the central consolidated school and graduated from Medicine Lake High School in 1943.
On Oct. 16, 1953, Charlie married Delores Rohrbacker in Denver, Colo. In March 1954, they moved to Homestead, Mont. Charlie farmed east of Homestead and did some custom farming. On Aug. 4, 1955, daughter Connie was born. On Dec. 20, 1956, son Donald was born. In July 1955, they built a home west of Froid.
In the spring of 1961, he purchased farmland in Canada. Charlie farmed the land in Canada as well as the family farm back home in Froid. In the 1980s, they built their home in Froid where they resided until the fall of 2017.
Charlie loved going to auctions and tinkering on his old cars and tractors. He was a dedicated member of the Threshing Bee and was also a member of the Northeastern Montana Wagon Train.
Charlie moved to LaCasa in Plentywood and Delores to the Country House in Dickinson, N.D. Charlie passed away at LaCasa on Feb. 7, 2020, just nine days short of his 96th birthday.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Lena Engelke; two brothers, Donald and Kenneth Engelke; daughter, Connie Bracken; son, Donnie Engelke; and grandson, Dusty Engelke.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Delores; grandchildren, Justin (Sadie) Bracken and Kristin (Lucas) Miller; greatgrandchildren, Kayden and Karson Bracken, Charlotte and Ella Miller, and Tristan Labatte.
Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 14, at 11 a.m. at the Froid Community Center with Pastor Tim Hustler officiating. Burial was in the Big Lake/Homestead Cemetery in Homestead.
(Paid Obituary)
