George Barton Gilbertson, 95, of rural Ada, MN, died February 22, 2024 while living at the Benedictine Care Community in Ada. 
George was the youngest son of Gilbert & Laura (Strand) Gilbertson. He was baptized and confirmed at West Wild Rice Church. Following George’s high school graduation in 1946 he joined the Army with the intent to make use of the GI bill to fund his education. George was awarded Expert Rifleman Distinction during his military training prior to his deployment to Japan as an MP where he was selected to join the General’s Guard.
As planned after military service, George attended technical school in Missouri to become a diesel mechanic and electrical technician. George had varied work experience: wheat harvest brigade from OK to MN, Caterpillar Company, Garrison Dam construction in ND, Minneapolis Motor Freight Company, and the local lesser known Loomer-Gilbertson Manufacturing Company.
George’s 40 year farming career started in 1953 on the land homesteaded by his grandparents Thor & Anna Gilbertson. George and his bride Dolores Joan Wiese raised hogs, chickens, small grains, sugar beets, and four daughters. George’s career highlights included: founding member of the American Crystal Sugar Cooperative in 1973, Norman County Outstanding Young Farmer, Century Farm recognition, Commander of VFW Post 7557, Ada school board member, and Wild Rice Watershed district director. Among the top of George’s retirement highlights were his camping road trip to Alaska with Dolores, their encore trip to Alaska, and his Honor Flight to Washington D.C.
George’s numerous interests and hobbies included: hunting, fishing, meat processing, photography, wood working, gardening, reading, tapping maple trees, family genealogy, collecting license plates, cross-country skiing along White Earth Lake trails, biking to breakfast on the Heartland Trail, and in later years he grew especially fond of making whole wheat bread from a variety of grains he milled.
George is survived by his four daughters, Patricia (John) Kerlin, Melissa (David) Zehr, Barbara (Michael) Delaney, and Gretchen (Erik) Rockstad; 12 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 45 years, Dolores; dear friend and country school classmate, Lois Sahl; his parents, Gilbert & Laura; siblings, Thor, Esther Kay, Gladys, Allen, Anga, and Jarl; and a granddaughter.
Memorials may be directed to Benedictine Living Community Ada, Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN, or Grace Lutheran Church.
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Grace Lutheran Church, Ada, MN.
Visitation: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, March 1, 2024 at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Ada, MN.
Interment with full military rites: West Wild Rice Cemetery, Rural Ada, MN. (Highway 27 west of Twin Valley)
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.fredriksonfh.com
Arrangements with Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Homes of Ada & Halstad, Minnesota
