ingebrigtsen was born in karlstad, minnesota in 1952. he graduated from hallock high school, obtained an a.a. in law enforcement from alexandria technical college, and also attended the national sheriffs institute of business management. he was a douglas county deputy sheriff from 1972–1991. he ran for and was elected sheriff in 1990. he was re-elected in 1994, 1998, and 2002, serving in that position from 1991–2007.