Thrivent Financial Employee Dies in Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Sherry Engebretsen, 60, Shoreview, Minn.,
died in the Aug. 1 collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge across
the Mississippi River near the center of Minneapolis. She was
the head of distribution strategies for Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans, Minneapolis.
Engebretsen was a member of Incarnation Lutheran Church,
Shoreview, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. Funeral plans are pending.
The Associated Press reported Aug. 3 the catastrophe killed
five people, injured another 79 and left eight missing.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Sherry in this tragic
incident," Bruce Nicholson, president and CEO, Thrivent Financial
for Lutherans, Minneapolis, said in a statement released Aug. 2.
"She was a wonderful colleague and co-worker, someone who brought
out the best in people and helped make our organization a great
place to work. We will miss her greatly," he said.
"On behalf of all of our employees here and across the
United States, I want to express our condolences to Sherry's
husband, Ron, and their daughters, Jessica and Anne. Our
thoughts and prayers are with you," Nicholson said.
Engebretsen began working for Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans in 2003 as an independent contractor. The organization
hired her later that year as director of product implementation.
In October 2006 she became the head of distribution strategies
for Thrivent Financial.
According to the statement, Thrivent Financial plans to
create a memorial fund in Engebretsen's honor. Details
surrounding the fund are being developed.
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The home page for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is at
http://www.thrivent.com/ and that of Incarnation Lutheran Church
is at http://www.incarnationmn.org/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog