Michael Gilbertson

Michael "Mike" Gilbertson, age 78, of Wilmot, SD, passed away on Monday, November 6, 2023.

A memorial service for Mike will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank. A private burial will be held at Grandview Cemetery in Gary. Scott Sutherlin will officiate. Music will be provided by Jan Steele. Honorary bearers will be his nieces and nephews: Chad Gilbertson, Kelly Roach, Neil Gilbertson, Emily Finley, and Jim Christofersen.

The service will be live streamed, recorded and viewable below this obituary.

Mike was born on November 4, 1945, in Canby, MN. He was the son of Elroy Gilbertson and Louise (Parsons) Gilbertson. Mike was raised in Gary, SD, and lived there until 1965. He attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. Mike lived and worked in Bloomington, MN, from 1965-2003. He worked for North Central Airlines, Republic Airlines, and retired in 2003 from Northwest Airlines as a Senior Inventory Analyst.

Mike was united in marriage with Lynette Sutherlin on December 11, 1993, in Bloomington, MN. Following retirement, Mike and Lynette built a home on the shores of Big Stone Lake in rural Wilmot, SD. Mike was an avid sportsman; he loved fishing and hunting. This year he was proud to have caught a 20 pound northern and a record walleye off the dock. He loved the sound of the flush of a rooster pheasant while hunting with Dot, Sadie, or Kota. Mike enjoyed watching sports, especially college sports, including the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. He also was a Minnesota Vikings fan and faithfully watched NASCAR, often making Lynette hold dinner for the “last four laps.”

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Lynette of rural Wilmot, SD; two step-sons: Scott (Erin) Sutherlin of Eagan, MN; and Robert Sutherlin of Apple Valley, MN; two brothers: Keith (Becky) Gilbertson of Alexandria, MN; and Merle (Linda) Gilbertson of Ft. Myers, FL; nieces and nephews: Jim (Gaye) Christofersen of Blaine, MN; Chad (Shannon) Gilbertson of Delafield, WI; Kelly (Brian) Roach of Maple Grove, MN; Neil Gilbertson of Fargo, ND; Emily Finley of Fargo, ND; and six step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents: Elroy and Louise Gilbertson; sister, Karen; and stepfather, Robert Jesme.

Mike’s family and friends will remember him as a practical teacher and a great storyteller that often taught a lesson. He was humble, an outdoorsman, and lived simply. He had a deep voice that left an impression and a contagious laugh. You never saw him without a cap on his head and a toothpick in his mouth! He loved living on Big Stone Lake with his best friend, Lynette.