Nancy Gilbertson

Nancy Ann (Houge) Gilbertson was born on May 8, 1957, to Bernard and Marian (Ochs) Houge in Albert Lea, MN. After graduating from high school, Nancy attended the Minnesota School of Business in the Twin Cities where she earned her associates degree as a legal secretary. She married her high-school sweetheart, Steven Gilbertson, on June 24, 1978. The couple was blessed with three children: Matthew, Stacy, and Michael.

In 1978, the couple moved to Alexandria, MN where Nancy worked as a legal secretary for a couple of years. From 1980-1990, Steve and Nancy owned and operated Jake’s Pizza in Alexandria. Nancy then spent several years as an executive assistant at RCC/Verizon. The last 10 years of her career were spent as Administrative Lead at Knute Nelson’s Grand Arbor.

Nancy always kept herself busy whether it was decorating her home for the seasons, singing in her choir and with the Praise Team, playing cribbage and cards, volunteering at Love INC, or entertaining family and friends. She also loved to travel especially to Las Vegas and Puerto Vallarta, going for pontoon rides around the Chain of Lakes on the “S.S. Chip”, and spending time with her many circles of girlfriends. However, what Nancy enjoyed most was spending time with family and the constant entertainment provided by her 8 young grandkids.

Nancy was a faith-filled woman with a kind and generous spirit and will be dearly missed by all of her family and friends.

Nancy died surrounded by her family on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at her home in Alexandria, at the age of 65. She is survived by her husband: Steve Gilbertson; three children: Matthew (Kari) Gilbertson, Stacy (Jason) Faith, and Michael (Stephanie) Gilbertson; eight grandchildren: Brayden, Landon, Fletcher, Graham, Hannah, Beau, Hunter, and Liam; brother: Jerry (Becky) Houge; two sisters: Jacque (Robert) Bogue and Diane (Stafford) Sterner; two brothers-in-law: Terry (Carolyn) Gilbertson and Tom Nelsen;  two sisters-in-law: Sue (Bill) Barber and Lanae (Larry) Thorstad; and several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Nancy is proceeded in death by her parents: Bernard and Marian Houge; father and mother-in-law: Kermit and Marie Gilbertson; and sister-in-law: Linda Nelsen.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at Mount Carmel Ministries in Alexandria, MN. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria, MN. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Knute Nelson Foundation.