Harvey Gilbertson

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.” Luke 2:29 Harvey Orlando Gilbertson was born at home October 1, 1922, in Litchville, ND, to Gustav and Annie (Olson) Gilbertson, the fifth of eight children, and grew up as the only son in the household. He attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Litchville, and high school in Elgin, IA. He matriculated at Luther College, Decorah, IA, in the fall of 1942. After one semester at Luther, Harvey volunteered for the Army Enlisted Reserve Corp. He was called to active duty in March of 1943, earning an Expert Rifleman Award in basic training. After a stint as a Cadre Instructor at Camp Callan, CA, he was sent to the European Front, serving in both the Anti-Aircraft Division and the 104th Infantry Division. He saw action in three major battles: Ramagen Bridgehead between France and Germany, Rhineland Campaign, and Battle for Central Europe. Honorably discharged in 1946, Harvey returned to Luther College, graduating in 1949. He then attended Luther Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, ordained as a Lutheran pastor in 1953. Harvey married Esther Lerud of Rembrandt, IA, on August 9, 1947. Together they served parishes in McGrath, MN; Stanley, ND; Lake Mills, IA; and Monticello, IA. After retiring to Fargo in 1986, he served for ten years as visitation pastor at Hope Lutheran. He has been a member of First Lutheran Church since 1996. He loved fishing, was a master woodworker, and always had a stack of books next to his chair. Pastor Gilbertson died March 28, 2011—peacefully and confident of his place in heaven. He is survived by his wife and partner in ministry for 63 years, Esther, of Fargo; four children (Joanne Whiting (Russ Hilliard) of Portsmouth, NH; Carol Grimm (Terrence) of Lake Park, MN; Mark Gilbertson (Kris) of Fargo, ND; and Greg Gilbertson of Minneapolis, MN); nine grandchildren (Ben Whiting, Sarah Whiting, Margaret Whiting, Erin Van Winkle Grimm, Jason Grimm, Andrew Grimm, Jennifer Gilbertson Cynkar, Stephanie Gilbertson, and Matthew Gilbertson); one great-granddaughter (Lillian Van Winkle); and one sister (Donna Lansing of Clermont, IA). Visitation and Prayer Service: First Lutheran Church, 619 Broadway, Fargo, ND, 5:00-8:00 p.m. (Prayer Service at 7:00) Thursday, March 31. Funeral: First Lutheran Church, Fargo, 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 1. Visitation and Interment: Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, Monticello, IA, 5:00 p.m. (Interment at 6:00) Saturday, April 2. Service of Celebration and Worship: Wayne Zion Church, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 3. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Pastor Gilbertson’s memory to either of his preferred charities—the Great Plains Food Bank or Daily Bread programs of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, 1730 3rd Ave. N., Fargo, ND, 58102 or online at http://www.lssnd.org/index.html .