Eleanor Gilbertson, of Montevideo died Thursday, December 8, 2016 at Home Front in Montevideo at the age of 96.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 1:30 PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Donald S. McKee officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo.
Visitation will be held starting at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 until the time of service at the church.
Eleanor Thelma Gilbertson was born on January 6, 1920 by Cut Bank, MT to Carl and Emma (Skordahl) Weckhorst. The family moved to Louisburg, MN when Eleanor was 5 ½ years old. Eleanor attended grade school in District 53 in Lac qui Parle County. She was confirmed at Louisburg Lutheran Church. The family then moved to a farm south of Appleton, MN. Eleanor graduated from Appleton High School in 1939. Following high school and during WWII Eleanor was employed at Honeywell in Minneapolis.
Eleanor met Roy Gilbertson in 1941 when Roy was in the Marines during WWII until 1945. Roy and Eleanor were united in marriage on November 24, 1945 at Louisburg Lutheran Church. They had four children together: Nancy, Allen, Lynn and Ronald. Following their marriage Roy and Eleanor lived east of Madison for 5 years where they farmed. They then moved to a farm north of Montevideo and farmed there until 1968. They were active members of Mandt Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School as well as other jobs in the congregation. When they moved to Montevideo in March 1969 they became members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where Eleanor was active in the Anna and Claudia circles.
Eleanor is survived by her children: Allen (Debra) Gilbertson, Hawick, MN, Lynn (Carol) Gilbertson, St. Michael, MN and Ron (special friend Lisa Streich) Gilbertson, Montevideo; son-in-law, Miles Ashburn; 17 grandchildren: Kevin Fonkert, Danny Fonkert, Jesse Gilbertson, Dustin Gilbertson, Wade Gilbertson, Jon Gilbertson, Jodi Fonkert, Lori Fonkert, Kellie Fonkert, Jeff Fonkert, Ross Fonkert, Jedd Fonkert, Cody Fonkert, Brandy Grieger, Luke Gilbertson, and Tricia Montgomery; 34 great-grandchildren; sister, Elizabeth (Dennis) Winquist; as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roy in 2001; a daughter, Nancy Ashburn; grandson, Ryan Gilbertson; great-granddaughter, Hannah Gilbertson; and three brothers: Gus, Gordon and Donald Weckhorst.