Roger Gilbertson

Roger Dean Gilbertson was born August 4, 1935 in Fergus Falls, MN, the son of Erwin and Ida (Gilbertson) Gilbertson. Roger grew up in Erhard, MN and attended country school there. He also attended school in Fergus Falls and graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1953. Roger then attended the Dakota Business College in Fargo, ND where he graduated in accounting. On May 14, 1955 Roger was united in marriage to Delores Ness at North Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids. The couple made their home in Wadena, MN where they were blessed with five children, Lee, Rob, Jon, Lauri and Beth. Roger worked as a Public Accountant, tax preparer, and business manager for forty-four years in the Wadena area. He retired in 1997. Roger and Delores began wintering in Benson, AZ after their retirement. Eventually they bought a home in Benson and spent their summers in Alexandria, MN. For over forty years Roger was active in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wadena. More recently Roger was active in the United Methodist Church in Benson and a member of First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Roger and Delores loved to travel. They traveled across the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They also traveled to Australia, central Europe, and visited Norway three times. Roger was an avid card player; his favorite games were whist and cribbage. He also enjoyed helping his brother-in-law with the field work on the Ness family farm. He liked sports, drives in the country, and family camping. Most important to Roger was the time he spent with his family. On September 16, 2010 Roger died at the age of 75 years. Roger is survived by his wife, Delores; three sons, Roger Lee Gilbertson and wife, Marilyn, of Minneapolis, MN, Robert Gilbertson and wife, Pam, of Eden Prairie, MN and Jon Gilbertson and Irina Storay of Melbourne, Australia; two daughters, Lauri Kuch and husband, Keith, of North Mankato, MN and Beth Pappenfus and husband, Larry, of Alexandria, MN; ten grandchildren, Heather (Dennis) Gross, Douglas Gilbertson, Meghan (John) Coleman, Aaron Gilbertson, Eric Gilbertson, Nikki Gilbertson, Tyler Kuch, Jeffrey Pappenfus, Matthew Pappenfus and Laura Pappenfus; two great grandchildren, Tanner and Parker Gross; one brother, Dennis Gilbertson and wife, Corrine, of Benson, AZ; and one sister, Glenna Sillrud and husband, Wayne, of Goodyear, AZ. Roger was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Duane Earl. The family requests that memorials be sent to Hospice of Douglas County or the Knute Nelson Nursing Home in Alexandria, MN. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 11AM at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be from 5-8PM on Friday, October 22, 2010 at the Anderson Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.com