Gerald R. “Jerry” Gilbertson

Wednesday, July 8, 2020 4:21 pm

Gerald R. “Jerry” Gilbertson, 97, of Decorah, passed away Friday, July 3, 2020, at Wellington Place in Decorah. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, with Rev. Jim Scaife officiating. Burial was in the Madison Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation began at 10:30 a.m., one half hour before the service, at Fjelstul Funeral Home.

Gerald Raymond Gilbertson was born May 28, 1923, in rural Benson County near Minnewaukan, N.D. He was the eighth of nine children born to Casper Olaus and Netta Josephine (Engebretson) Gilbertson. He was baptized July 15, 1923, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Esmond, N.D. When Jerry was three years old, his mother passed away and he came to live with his uncle Gilbert and aunt Trena (Halvorson) Gilbertson in rural Decorah. He was confirmed May 29, 1938 at Madison Lutheran Church.

Jerry was united in marriage to Pearl Charlotte Flaskerud June 17, 1948, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. After working with Gilbert for 10 years on the family farm, they purchased their own farm 3-1/2 miles south of Ridgeway. Together, Jerry and Pearl farmed there for more than 60 years. Jerry took great care in tending for his crops and livestock. In 2011 they moved into the city of Decorah. They were married for more than 71 years.

After he finished school, Jerry and two friends from Madison Township worked in Denver, Colo. Jerry delivered ice for a while and then installed machine guns on military aircraft during WWII. In 1949, Jerry participated in a nine-mile race from Conover to Decorah. The contestants walked along the railroad tracks, carrying 60-pound sacks of wheat. Jerry came in third. His cousin Orin Gilbertson came in first. The cash prize was in the form of silver dollars.

Jerry had special memories of his grandparents, Ole and Aase (Hovden) Gilbertson, with whom he lived for several years. Jerry loved horseback riding and went on several long trail rides in South Dakota. He and Pearl also traveled to North Dakota, Louisiana and Florida, where they drove on the Daytona 500 racetrack. In later years, Jerry and Pearl were a familiar sight in Decorah, as they drove around town each day to check on friends and relatives and view the eagles.

Jerry is survived by two brothers-in-law, Les Branhagen of Decorah and John Perry of Bloomington, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents; aunt and uncle; his siblings: Alice Thompson, Alma Hovden, Orville Gilbertson, Norman Gilbertson, Gladys Carlson, Mildred Gilbertson, Ella Gilbertson and Clara (Claire) Perry; and his beloved wife Pearl, who passed away March 2, 2020.

Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.