Walter Arlo Gilbertson

Walter A. Gilbertson, age 89, of Litchfield, MN, died on Sunday, July 14, 2013 at the Ecumen Emmanuel Nursing Home in Litchfield, MN. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN. Visitation will held one hour prior to the service at church. Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. Interment will be held at Eagle Lake Cemetery at 2:00 pm. Walter ""Arlo"" Gilbertson, the son of Nels and Amy (Pederson) Gilbertson was born on May 24, 1924 in Willmar, MN. He moved to Morris, MN to attend boarding school, Morris Ag School. After graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps and fought in WWII in the Pacific region. He returned to the family farm near Eagle Lake, MN after the war where he continued farming even after his marriage to Wanda Jean Wilke on March 26, 1955. There they had all five of their children. In May, 1961 he also started as a Star Route Contractor for the U.S. Postal Service. He quit farming and moved his family to Litchfield to haul mail full time in June of 1966. He also began driving school bus at this time. In 1972 he bought the North Star gas station and managed that for 3 years and then worked for Langmo Farms for a year before winning the bid once again to return to hauling mail. He finally retired in July, 1989. He kept busy on his son's hobby farm raising cattle and tending to his rather large garden. He also enjoyed time spent with his grandchildren attending their various sporting events and trips to the cabin north of Park Rapids, MN. A highlight of his year was the annual deer hunting weekend at the cabin with his boys and all their friends. He was also very excited to get his library card and even kept a journal of the many books he had read. During his years of manning the gas station, he had hockey equipment available for sale and used his handyman skills to rig up a time-keeping system for the outdoor rink that was used for two years prior to the city building its first ice arena. He is survived by five children: Greg (and Margi) Gilbertson of Litchfield, MN, Gerry (and Mary) Gilbertson of Litchfield, MN, Dale (and Sue) Gilbertson of Eden Prairie, MN, Duane (and Jill DeBoer) Gilbertson of Prior Lake, MN and Diane (and Patrick) Olsen of Savage, MN; and 11 grandchildren: Anna Gilbertson, Danielle (and Hans) Hoeg, Holly (and Aaron) Hamm, Andy Gilbertson, Austin Gilbertson, Madelyn Gilbertson, Amy Gilbertson DeBoer, Lucy Gilbertson DeBoer, Miranda Olsen, Morgan Olsen and Gerrit Olsen. He is also survived by his brother, Don (and Ann) Gilbertson, his sister Alice Gjerde and brother-in-law, Don Johnston. He is preceded in death by his parents, Nels and Amy, wife, Wanda, his brother, Bob (and Mary) Gilbertson and his sister, Lois Johnston.Previous Events Visitation Wednesday, July 17, 2013 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Zion Lutheran Church 504 North Gilman Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Wednesday, July 17, 2013 11:00 AM Zion Lutheran Church 504 North Gilman Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355