A celebration of life for KayDelle L. Gilbertson of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Lake Hanska Cemetery in Hanska. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and one hour before the service at the church.

KayDelle, 77, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, March 2, 2017, at St. John’s Lutheran Community after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born July 26, 1939, one of four daughters of Kenelm and Lois (Sveum) Ahlness.

She was a 1957 graduate of Hanska High School. In her 20s she became the loving mother of two beautiful girls, Julie and Holly. She married Vic Gilbertson on March 12, 1979, in Reno, Nevada.

Throughout her life, KayDelle was a hostess at Holiday House in St. Peter, manager at JC Penney in Albert Lea and — together with her husband, Vic — owned and operated Commercial Wood Products, Gilbertson’s Furniture and Accents, and Spud Burgers. KayDelle, never liking to be idle and always independent, worked her last day at Agilis in Albert Lea on Jan. 19, 2017.

One of her greatest passions was her flower gardens; she had a magic green thumb. KayDelle put the fun in life. She loved to tell stories and laugh, always put a positive spin on everything, and she worried and fiercely protected those she loved.

She was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandma, “great” big sister, true loyal friend and the sunshine in any day.

She will be greatly missed by her husband, Vic; her daughters Julie (Stephen) Murphy of Las Vegas, and Holly (Douglas) Crocker and children Brandon and Jillian of Inver Grove Heights; step-daughter, Shelley Goldman, and children Allison, Michael and Benjamin of Cincinnati, Ohio; stepson, Sheldon “Mitch” (Teresa) Gilbertson, and children Audrey Black, Brett, Elizabeth, Ann and Matthew Gilbertson of Cincinnati; sisters Shirley Anderson of Shakopee, Suzanne (Larry) Stoesz of Hanska and Betty (Mark) Schnobrich of Hutchinson; sister-in-law, Sonja (Dan) Johnson, of Albert Lea; brother-in-law, Paul (Lynn) Gilbertson, of Puyallup, Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Kenelm and Lois Ahlness; stepson, Jeff Gilbertson; nephew, Lucas Stoesz; brother-in-law, Wes Anderson; father-in-law and mother-in-law Everett and Marie Gilbertson; and sister-in-law, Karen Gilbertson.

Blessed be her memory.