Wanda Jean Gilbertson

Wanda Jean Gilbertson, 78, died Oct. 26 at Ecumen of Litchfield. A memorial service was Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield with Pastors Harvey Nelson and Christian Muellerleile officiating. Interment was in Eagle Lake Cemetery north of Willmar. The daughter of Boyd and Gladys (Bosch) Wilke, she was born Oct. 7, 1933, on a farm south of Benson, Minn. The family moved briefly to a farm north of Benson before finally settling on a farm near Murdock, Minn., in 1937. After graduating from Murdock High School in 1952, she and a friend ventured off to Denver, Colo., and were immediately hired as secretaries due to their ""high quality"" Minnesota education. She came home for Christmas in 1954, met Arlo and never returned to Colorado. She worked briefly in Minneapolis at FD Hayer Co. until they were married at Calvary Lutheran Church in Murdock, Minn., on March 26, 1955. The couple settled on the Gilbertson family farm near Eagle Lake, north of Willmar, where all five of their children were born. They farmed there until they moved to Litchfield in June 1966. In Litchfield, she was a homemaker, a school bus driver for 31 years and also worked at Boyd's Children's Clothing, Montgomery Ward and The Framemakers. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and past president of D.O.E.S. in Willmar. She was a den mother, a former hockey booster president and a Girl Scout day camp leader. She enjoyed playing bridge, bowling, relaxing at the cabin in Park Rapids, Minn., and spending time with her family and friends. She was especially proud of her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Walter Arlo; five children, Greg (Margi) Gilbertson of Litchfield, Gerry (Mary) Gilbertson of Litchfield, Dale (Sue) Gilbertson of Eden Prairie, Minn., Duane (Jill DeBoer) Gilbertson of Prior Lake, Minn., and Diane (Patrick) Olsen of Savage, Minn.; 11 grandchildren, Anna Gilbertson, Danielle (Hans) Hoeg, Holly (Aaron) Hamm, Andrew Gilbertson, Austin Gilbertson, Madelyn Gilbertson, Amy Gilbertson DeBoer, Lucy Gilbertson DeBoer, Miranda Olsen, Morgan Olsen and Gerrit Olsen; her brother, Craig (Cheryl) Wilke of Park Rapids, Minn.; sisters, Peggy (John) Williams of Excelsior, Minn., and Georgia (Dennis) Doering of Kerkhoven, Minn.; brothers-in-law, Donald (Ann) Gilbertson of Fridley, Minn., Don Johnston of Willmar; sisters-in-law, Alice Gjerde of Willmar, Molly Wilke of Willmar, and Marge Wilke of St. Paul. She was preceded in death by her parents, Boyd and Gladys; brothers, Donald Wilke and Darold Wilke; and infant sister, Barbara. Previous Events Visitation Saturday, October 29, 2011 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Zion Lutheran Church 504 North Gilman Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Saturday, October 29, 2011 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Zion Lutheran Church 504 North Gilman Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Saturday, October 29, 2011 2:00 PM Eagle Lake Lutheran Cemetery Willmar, MN 56201