Esther Leola Gilbertson

Esther L. Gilbertson (nee Lerud) died February 18, 2019, in Fargo, North Dakota, peacefully and confident of her place in heaven. She was 92.

She is predeceased by Harvey O. Gilbertson, her husband and partner in ministry for 63 years. She is survived by four children, Joanne Whiting (Russ Hilliard) of Portsmouth, NH; Carol Grimm (Terrence) of Scottsdale, AZ; Mark Gilbertson (Kris) of Fargo, ND and Pelican Rapids, MN; and Greg Gilbertson, Minneapolis, MN; nine grandchildren, Ben Whiting, Sarah Whiting, Margaret Whiting, Erin Van Winkle Grimm, Jason Grimm, Andrew Grimm, Jennifer Gilbertson Cynkar, Stephanie Gilbertson Bleymeier, and Matthew Gilbertson; 14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Esther Leola Gilbertson was born in Rembrandt, Iowa on February 13, 1927, to Rev. Theodore and Mrs. Laura (Stundahl) Lerud, the youngest of five children. Her early life as the pastor’s daughter in a small town parsonage instilled in her the values she lived the rest of her life: deep faith, respect for learning and education, generosity of spirit, and dedication to serving others.

She graduated from Rembrandt High School in 1943 and attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa for two years, graduating with an associate degree and certificate in teaching in 1945. She taught high school English in Spencer, Iowa for two years, during which she met Harvey Gilbertson during a visit to his hometown with a friend.

The Gilbertsons were married by Esther’s father in Rembrandt on August 9, 1947. Harvey then attended Luther Theological Seminary in Minneapolis and was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor in 1953. During their seminary years, Esther worked as a telephone operator and gave birth to their two daughters. After his ordination, they served parishes in McGrath, MN, Stanley, ND, Lake Mills, IA, and Monticello, IA. While serving as a full time pastor’s wife (church organist, choir director, Sunday School superintendent, pastor’s confidante, and parsonage hostess), Esther bore two sons, taught English, speech, and drama; finished her undergraduate baccalaureate degree at Mankato State College in Mankato, MN; coached state champion forensics teams; and directed high school plays and musicals. In 1986 she was inducted into the Iowa High School Speech Association Hall of Fame, its highest honor.

The Gilbertsons retired to Fargo, ND, in 1986. They were members of Hope Lutheran until 1996, when they joined First Lutheran and where she still belonged at the time of her death. Esther produced and directed one act plays at each of these churches for several years in her retirement. She also led tour groups to many domestic and international destinations.

Esther Gilbertson was a tireless witness of her faith, a formidable force for good, a consummate hostess and entertainer, an eternal optimist, and a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy can be summed up in the one word of wisdom and encouragement that she imparted daily to her children, her students, her choirs, and her actors: SPARKLE! And she did.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Esther Gilbertson’s memory to Lutheran World Relief, online at www.lwr.org . (The donation button is in the top right-hand corner of the home page.)

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 13, at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church in Monticello, IA. Burial took place on February 22, 2019 at Wayne Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Monticello.