Helen J. Engebretsen

Helen was born on May 31, 1933, in Portland, Indiana, to Vera Beck Fleming Gilliard and Kyle Fleming. As a young girl, she spent winters in Martin County with her mother and her grandparents, Aaron and Minnie Beck. She and her mother later made Martin County their permanent home.

Growing up in Stuart, Helen met a Florida native named Toley Engebretsen. They were married on June 9, 1950. While Toley served in the United States Navy, Helen remained in Stuart. After his military service, they settled in Salerno, where Toley continued building the marine business founded by his father.

In the mid-1950’s, Helen and Toley built a home on the north fork of the St. Lucie River where they would spend the rest of their lives together. In 1957, they welcomed their only child, Shawn.

Helen embarked on her professional career in 1968, joining Jensen Beach Travel Service shortly after it opened. Within her first year, she became a partner, eventually purchasing the business and serving as its president and sole owner. Under her leadership, the agency became known for its motto, "All Your Travel Needs Under One Umbrella.”

Travel was far more than Helen's profession—it was her passion. She had a remarkable gift for planning unforgettable journeys and introducing others to the wonders of the world. She founded a ladies' travel club so women with a shared love of adventure could explore together, and she personally escorted countless tours. What began with trips throughout Florida soon expanded across the United States and eventually to destinations spanning nearly every continent. Helen found great satisfaction in planning trips and escorting people on tours.

During her career as a travel agent, she traveled to all of the states and many countries throughout the world, including the Iron Curtain countries of Poland, Rumania, Yugoslavia, and Russia as well as countries in Western Europe. She also traveled to Israel, Jordan, Hong Kong, Japan, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and many countries in South America.

Some of her favorite destinations outside of the United States were: the six provinces of Canada, Czechoslovakia, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Monaco, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Peru, Kenya, South Africa, India, Thailand, Fiji Islands, and Tahiti.

When asked which places across the globe (besides Stuart and Martin County) “touched” her soul for beauty and spirit of the people, her answers were Norway, New Zealand, and countries in the continent of Africa.

One of Helen's most memorable adventures came in 1970, when she led a 26-day tour through East Asia. Accompanied by Toley and their 13-year-old son, Shawn, the journey included attending Expo '70 in Japan. Years later, in 2006, Helen shared another unforgettable journey with Toley, Shawn, Becky, and her grandchildren on a family trip to Norway. The highlight was spending time with relatives in Porsgrunn, deepening family connections across generations.

Helen delighted in sharing her love of travel with her grandchildren. She took them on cruises, introduced them to many of her favorite destinations, and made it a tradition to celebrate each grandchild's graduation with a special trip to the destination of their choosing. Those adventures created memories her family will cherish forever.

Over the years, Helen became the “go to” person to provide talks to civic and community organizations about her travel experiences. Her decades-long involvement with the Stuart Woman's Club began in 1959 with the Stuart Junior Woman's Club, where she later served two years as president. She chaired the annual Stuart Christmas Parade for several years and was very active in the Stuart Woman’s Club, serving as its president during the 1980s.

Helen also served as president of the Martin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and was a dedicated board member of both the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Jensen Beach Downtown Merchants Association. She was also an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Jensen Beach, generously giving her time to countless community projects throughout the years.

After Jensen Beach Travel Agency closed its doors in 2015 after more than four decades of success, Helen once again began volunteering with the Hospital Auxiliary, greeting visitors at the front desk, until this service was closed due to the COVID pandemic.

Though she built a successful business and traveled the world, raising her son, Dr. Shawn Engebretsen, and being a devoted wife to Toley were Helen’s priorities. She loved to cook with and for her family, and she taught her grandchildren (and even a couple of her great-grandchildren) to feel comfortable in the kitchen from an early age.

After a full and joy-filled life, Helen is survived by her son, Shawn; his wife Becky; her grandchildren, Erik and his wife Brianna, Travis and his wife Brittany, and her only granddaughter, Kristin; and her four great-grandsons, Travis Jr. ("T.J.” ), Daniel, Caleb, and Benjamin Engebretsen. She leaves behind a legacy of family, adventure, and loving memories. She has begun her greatest travel adventure to date, being with her Savior, Jesus Christ.

The family wishes to express a special thank you to Helen's devoted caregivers—Jenie Parks, Mickey Wich, Heidi White, Pam Moore, Melissa Echenique, Irene Merritt, and Penny Brydabell—for the loving care they provided during the last three years of her life.

The family also extends its sincere gratitude to Rick Walker for his many years of kindness, friendship, and loyal support, which helped ensure Toley and Helen's comfort and safety.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 7th at 6pm, at Stuart Alliance Church, 445 SE Osceola St, Stuart, FL 34994