Funeral services for Kermit O. Gilbertson, age 79, of Albert Lea, were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at Grace Lutheran Church. The Rev. John Henriksen officiated. Interment was in Hillcrest Cemetery. Military honors were accorded by area servicemen’s organizations. Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. Friday, June 7, at the Bayview/ Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Kermit died on Wednesday, June 5, 2002, at his home.

Kermit O. Gilbertson was born on April 22, 1923, in Manchester Township, the son of Adolph and Agnes (Thykeson) Gilbertson. He was a resident of Freeborn County his entire life. Kermit graduated from Freeborn High School in 1940. On Jan. 20, 1943, Kermit was united in marriage to Marie R. Bowman at the Salem Lutheran Parsonage. During World War II, Kermit served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater. Kermit worked as a forklift operator for Wilson and Co. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, the American Legion, the VFW, the Eagle’s Lodge, was president of the Labor Union Retirees, and volunteered at St. John’s Lutheran Home. Kermit enjoyed coffee and cards with his many wonderful friends. He especially loved being with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Gilbertson of Albert Lea; sons: Terry and his wife Carolyn (Johnson) Gilbertson, of Waseca, and Steven and his wife Nancy (Houge) Gilbertson of Alexandria; daughters: Sue and her husband Bill Barber of Albert Lea, Linda and her husband Tom Nelsen of St. Peter, and Lanae and her husband Larry Thorstad of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Christina Barber, Jennifer (Barber) and her husband Greg Schimek, Dr. Sarah Barber, PharmD., Chad Gilbertson, Anne (Gilbertson) and her husband Albert Castro, Jane Gilbertson, Matthew Gilbertson, Stacy Gilbertson,

Marcus Thorstad, Grant Nelsen, Michael Gilbertson, Emily Nelsen and Jeff Thorstad; great-grandchildren: Madison Melcher and Ryan Schimek; sister, Ada Jacobsen; a number of sisters- and brothers-in law; and many other relatives.

Kermit was preceded in death by his daughter, Sandra; his parents; his brothers: Ernest, Brayton and LeRoy; his sister, Beulah; and his parents-in-law, Ernest and Lottie Bowman.

Kermit was loved by many and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.