Alice
Engelstad, 87Thief River Falls - Alice Engelstad, 87, died Tuesday, April 21 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Burial will be in Clarksville Cemetery in Clarksville, MI, beside her husband, Clee Post. A memorial mass will be held later in Phoenix, AZ.
Alice Cecelia Kerwer was born on July 14, 1910 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Mathias Joseph and Mary Rose (Cormier) Kerwer. She was baptized at St. Clement's Church in Chicago and attended school in Chicago, graduating from Lakeview High School. Alice also attended the Sherwood School of Music in Chicago. She taught music lessons including piano and organ.
In 1943 Alice was united in marriage to Clee Post in Michigan. The couple lived in Chicago, IL and Clarksville, MI. From 1943 until 1946 Alice served in the United States Special Services as a theatre operator at Camp Claiborne, LA, achieving the rank of First Lt.
Alice returned to Clarksville, MI after her husband Clee died in 1955.
On August 24, 1968 she married Melvin Engelstad in Douglas, AZ where the couple resided. She continued to give music lessons. In 1973 Alice and Mel moved to Ghana, Africa where they served in the Peace Corps for two years. The couple returned to Thief River Falls, Melvin's hometown, in 1981. Melvin died on March 4, 1987.
Alice and Melvin were members of Trinity Lutheran Church, and Alice was a member and worshipper of Abundant Life Church in Thief River Falls. She enjoyed music, sewing and serving as church organist as well as her travels and the many people she met along the way.
Alice is survived by two sisters, Delima (Albert) Hertel and Norma Ruth Hertel, both of Phoenix, AZ; one stepdaughter, Diane Engelstad of Naugatuck, CT; one daughter-in-law, Mary Engelstad of Dayton Shores, FL; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Clee Post and Melvin Engelstad; two brothers, Edmond Kerwer and Willard Kerwer; and one stepson, Brent Engelstad.