Dr. Orvis Phillip Engelstad of Florence died Wednesday, Nov. 30. He was 83 years old. A native of Fertile, Minn., Orvis graduated from the Northwest School of Agriculture and served in the U.S. Army before he received bachelors and masters degrees in soil science from the University of Minnesota. He went on to receive his PhD from Iowa State University. Orvis spent most of his career at the Tennessee Valley Authority, where he started as a staff member in the Soils and Fertilizer Research Branch. After 28 years with TVA he retired as the Director of the Division of Research. Orvis was honored as a fellow by the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy. He had a passion for his work, something that took him around the world, working with fertilizers and rice production in Asia, the Middle East and Central America. He loved travel and other cultures. He especially enjoyed camping with his children and grandchildren and traveling in retirement with his wife Marlys. In total, he traveled to 56 countries, 50 states and all the Canadian provinces. He was also passionate about antique car restoration and spent 10 years meticulously restoring a 1931 Model A truck, which he proudly displayed in car shows and holiday parades. Orvis also enjoyed serving with various community organizations. He was a former president of the Florence Exchange Club, former president of the TVA Retiree Association, was the chairman of the first Native American Festival in Florence, was a former chairman of the Antique Auto Club, served as a board member of the Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc., served on the Florence Historical Board and during his retirement was a consultant for the International Fertilizer Development Center. He was also a longtime member of First United Methodist Church. Orvis was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Olga Engelstad. He is survived by his wife, Marlys, his daughter, Kristin Seabol, sons Dr. Stephen Engelstad (Debbie) and Martin Engelstad (Jennifer), grandchildren Lydia Avant (Michael), Andrea Henderson (Justin), Sean and Sarah Engelstad, and three great grandchildren, Kennedy and William Avant and Ann Parker Henderson. He is also survived by three brothers, a sister, and many nieces and nephews. The funeral will be at First Methodist Church in Florence at 2 p.m. Saturday, with a visitation from noon to 2 p.m. The Rev. Mike Pope will officiate. Burial will follow at Greenview Cemetery. Elkins Funeral Home is assisting the family. Bill Sutherland, Dave Mays, Harold Parker, John Soileau, Michael Avant, Justin Henderson and Sean Engelstad will serve as pallbearers. Members of the Exchange Club are honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any gifts be made to the Florence First United Methodist Church Building Fund. The family would also like to send special thanks for the care provided by the nursing staff at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital and Dr. John Bartmess. Orvis was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend and will be deeply missed.