Rudolph Gilbertson

Rudy was born August 8, 1906, the son of Abraham and Laura Gilbertson. He was baptized in August of 1906 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church and confirmed on October 17, 1920, at Jevnaker Lutheran Church. Rudy attended country school in Chippewa County. As a young man he loved adventure and traveled and worked at various occupations. Rudy was a shipyard crane operator in Mobile, Alabama, a streetcar operator and welder in Minneapolis. On November 16, 1940, Rudolph was united in marriage to Charlotte Anderson at St. John's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. He served his country in the United States Army and was an expert marksman. He was honorably discharged in October of 1944. In 1948, they returned to Chippewa County where together they farmed north of Montevideo and were members of Jevnaker Lutheran Church. Rudy's interests included trapping, hunting, fishing, woodworking, carpentry and love of dogs and guns. His faith in God, his love of his family and everything living; animals, birds and even the trees, is what made Rudy the man he was. He was a true gentle man. Before moving to the Valin Senior Care earlier this summer, Rudy was interested in seeing the crops and how they were coming along. Rudy was received into the Lord's heavenly kingdom on Monday, August 24, 2009, at the Valin Senior Care in Montevideo. He was 103 years, two weeks and two days old.He is survived by his children: Yvonne Jensen of Farmington; Carol (Gerald) VanZyl of Montevideo and David (Karmie) Gilbertson of Montevideo; eight grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Charlotte in 2001, and three brothers and three sisters.