Everett Allan Greenli

Everett Allan Greenli, 86, Phoenix, AZ, passed away Oct. 21, 2023 in Phoenix, AZ. He was a cancer survivor for over 20 years before succumbing to other medical issues. A Celebration of Life Ceremony for family and friends will be held Nov. 11 from 1 to 4 pm in the Activities Room at Fellowship Square, 2002 W. Sunnyside Ave. in Phoenix, starting with a Memorial Service at 1 pm.

Everett was born March 16, 1937, to Jens and Stella (Lunsetter) Greenli, at Great Falls, Montana, and grew to manhood in Dutton, Montana. He was baptized and confirmed at the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church there and graduated from Dutton High School. He attended Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, for two years and then enrolled at Montana State College in Bozeman, graduating in 1960, with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. Later he earned a master’s degree in professional management from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Everett took his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and served in the Army for two years, including one year in Korea.

Everett had a varied and interesting career. He first worked for Boeing: in Seattle on the 737 jet; in New Orleans on the first stage of the Saturn/Apollo space craft; at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the Apollo Space Crafts; and then in Everett, WA on the 747 jet. Then he worked for the U. S. Department of Defense: in Grand Island, Nebraska at the Cornhusker Ammunition Plant; in Rock Island, Illinois, at the Rock Island Arsenal; and in Washington, DC, both at the Pentagon and later at Darcom Headquarters, where he managed the implementation of “Earned Value” for contractor facilities around the country. After moving to Phoenix, he worked for Motorola, the Arizona Public Service Co. including at the Palo Verde Nuclear Plant; at American Express; at Special Devices; and at the Sky Harbor Airport on the People Mover Project. He also worked at Boeing again on the Black Hawk Helicopter program.

Everett enjoyed a variety of hobbies during his life, including hunting (deer, elk, birds), fishing (from trout in Montana to northern and walleye in Minnesota), golf, tennis, guitar, and many others.

Everett was an active member of numerous Professional Engineering Organizations during his career and in retirement.

In retirement, Everett spent many hours promoting engineering as a career in various Junior Highs, High Schools, and Colleges in the area. He judged science fairs for local schools and spent much time promoting and judging “Future Cities” competitions and encouraging students to study STEM/CTE subjects and consider engineering as a career. He spent endless hours on conference calls with his engineering buddies, making plans to improve all these various projects.

Everett was known for his annual Christmas Open Houses at his beautiful home in Mesa, and for cutting several tons of lutefisk for the annual Sons of Norway dinners over many years.

Everett was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Dell Swenson, and many other relatives in this country and Norway. He is survived by his sister, Helen Swenson of Bismarck, ND, and her four children: Tim Swenson, Fargo, ND; Tom (Judy) Swenson, Phoenix, AZ; Crystal (David) Dahl, Fargo, ND; and Cammi (Tim) Telshaw, Prior Lake, MN; Helen’s 7 grandchildren: Matthew Swenson, Lynchburg, VA; Daniel (Keri) Swenson, Seattle, WA; Michael (Kilynn) Dahl, Bowling Green, OH; Markus Dahl, West Fargo, ND; Mitchell Dahl, New Hope, MN; Keara and Kayla Telshaw, Prior Lake, MN; his former wife Marion Krell (Phoenix, AZ); his former long-time girlfriend Kitty Christianson (Phoenix, AZ); and many other family and friends.

Burial will be in Dutton, MT in summer of 2024. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to the American Cancer Society.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mariposagardens.com for the Greenli family.

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Please contact the staff of Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park & Funeral Care for questions or comments.