Henry Joseph Engesmoe was born on February 13, 1922 to Carl and Hilda (Nordaune) Engesmoe on the family farm in Hansonville Township, Lincoln County, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at Singsaas Lutheran Church, rural Hendricks. He attended School District 42 in Hansonville Township through the 8th grade. In his late teen years, he stayed home and helped his dad farm and raise his younger siblings as his mother passed away when he was 17.

On September 18, 1954, he was united in marriage to Ruth Christensen in Hendricks, MN. To this union two children were born, Harvey and Pamela. In the early years he farmed and during the winter he trapped mink, muskrats, etc., for their furs. He continued to farm and also worked at Larson’s Grocery Store on the side. Hank worked for Harlen Gilbertson at Southside Implement for a few years. He drove tractor and farmed for Marvin Wessels. Later he helped his son-in-law, Bill Ochocki, farm for a number of years. In his later years, he trapped pocket gophers and collected/recycled aluminum cans. Most years he would catch around 700 gophers a year. He had picked up and recycled over 816,000 aluminum cans and was still doing it when he went into the Nursing Home in June of 2019. Hank passed away at the Hendricks Nursing Home on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at the age of 97.

Hank was a member of Singsaas Church, where he was an usher and the church bell ringer for Sunday Church and funerals. Hank loved music; playing by ear, the piano, guitar and accordion. He especially loved “Old Time Polka Music”, and Ruth and he used to go to lots of dances. In later years, Jared and he would watch “Fun Time Polka” on PBS on Saturdays and Sundays. He loved visiting with family and friends, playing cards, Yahtzee, Phase 10 and other games. Ruth and he loved putting jigsaw puzzles together. Hank enjoyed doing Search-A-Word puzzles to pass the time. He enjoyed life and had an infectious smile and life.

He is survived by his two children: Harvey (friend Nadean) Engesmoe and Pam (Bill) Ochocki; granddaughters: Stacey (Braden) Texley, Stephanie (Matt) Pederson, and grandson, Jared Ochocki, all of Hendricks, MN; granddaughters: Erin (Randy) Kletscher, of Vesta, Jennifer (Chris) Erion of Montevideo and Joni (Brian) Mesch of Sioux Falls; great-grandchildren: Ayla, Colsen, Braxtyn, Callie, Jalyn, Maryn and Thielyn; brother, Joe (Helen) Engesmoe; sisters: Helen Moffatt, Opal (Chester) Benson and Marcy Sommervold; brother-in-law, Richard Christensen, sisters-in-law: Irene Engesemoe, Clarice Dallenbach and Karen Christensen; many nieces, nephews, cousin and friends.

Hank was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Ruth; parents, brother, Cliff Engesmoe; sisters: Gelina, Judith, June and Pearl; brothers-in-law: Orris Olson, Harold Moffatt, Kenny Sommervold and Ron Weenink, Larry Fredricks, Vernon Christensen and Howard Dallenbach; and sisters-in-law: Karen Fredricks and Josephine Christensen.

Blessed be his memory.