Florence I. Gilbertson

Florence I. Gilbertson, age 95 of Detroit Lakes, MN passed away at Diamond Willow Assisted Living on May 25, 2017. Hospice of the Red River Valley assisted in her end of life care. Florence Inez Haugen was born on April 27, 1922, in Lake Eunice Township, MN, to John and Carrie (Oien) Haugen. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in rural Audubon. She attended District 78 country school at Lake Center, then attended high school in Detroit Lakes, graduating in 1941. She then worked in Detroit Lakes for the David Park Ice Cream Company (Luxury Café) for 4 years, then J.C. Penney Company for 6 years. In 1951 she married Edgar Gilbertson; they had three children and made a whole lot of terrific memories. In 1964 she returned to the work force at Sears Roebuck & Company Catalog Store and worked there until retirement. She was a member of First Lutheran Church for nearly 70 years. She was very active at First Lutheran, teaching Sunday School, as a member of the women’s organizations, serving at funerals, Lenten lunches, participating in many Bible studies and the prayer chain. She served on the Lutheran Brotherhood board and as a visitor at St. Mary’s Nursing Home for many years. She was a member of a women’s sewing/card club that began meeting about 1950 and continued until just a few years ago. She admitted that she was always too busy working to develop any hobbies, but she enjoyed several senior bus trips in her retirement years and she was a big Minnesota Twins fan. Faith and family meant everything to her and she devoted her time to those purposes. Florence is survived by her children: Karen (Doug) Schultz of Detroit Lakes, MN; Judy (Paul) Iverson of Lake City, IA; and Mark Gilbertson (Lindi Bjornson) of Detroit Lakes, MN; four grandchildren: Joshua (Jill) Iverson, Seth (Elizabeth) Iverson, Micah (Carrie) Iverson and Leah (Jeff) Snyder and eight great grandchildren: Anika, Benjamin and Elijah Iverson; Owen Iverson; Kasen and Asher Iverson; Henry and Cassidy Snyder; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar; her parents; and seven brothers: Elmer, Edwin, Alfred, Oscar, Maynard, Ernie, and Lester Haugen; six sisters, Lena Mitchell, Olga Mitchell, Clara Matson, Mabel Haack, Mae Gilbertson, and Alice Haugen. What a reunion they must be having!