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Dorothy V. Gilberts Obituary – 11/21/2013


Dorothy Vera Gilberts, age 90, of Litchfield, formerly of Lake Lillian, died Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, at Ecumen Nursing Home in Litchfield.

She was born Nov. 7, 1923, at West Lake Lillian Township, to Charles and Freda (Reins) Harding. Dorothy, often known as “Tiny,” grew up at Lake Lillian and attended District 105 School.

Dorothy married Archie Gilberts Jan. 19, 1946, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church parsonage in Bird Island, and they were blessed with four children.

The couple farmed near Lake Lillian until 1966, then by Cedar Mills, and in 1977, moved to Belgrade to continue farming. They retired to Lake Lillian in 1989.

Archie preceded Dorothy in death in 1991.

Dorothy was a member of First Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian, now United Lutheran, where she was active in the ladies’ organizations.

Besides being a full-time farmer’s wife, mother, and homemaker, she was a nursing assistant at the Cosmos Nursing Home for 17 years. After retirement, she was the coordinator of the Lake Lillian meal site for several years, and had also cleaned at the K-M Funeral Home in Lake Lillian.

Dorothy enjoyed doing embroidery, baking, tending her flower and vegetable gardens, playing bingo and cards, watching the birds, and wearing beads from her great-grandchildren. She was a wonderful mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

In 2007, Dorothy moved to Gloria Dei in Litchfield, and has resided at Ecumen Nursing Home since 2008.

She is survived by her children, Algene (Deb) Gilberts of Hutchinson, Joyce (Gary) Stone of Watertown, SD, Carol (James) Borg of Waverly, and Karen (Larry) Hoffmann of Litchfield; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Dorothy is further survived by her sisters, Alice Bell of Hutchinson and Maylond Degner of Renville; her sister-in-law, Violet Madsen of Lake Lillian; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Archie, Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Clara Flann; and her brother, Charles Allen (“Sonny”) Harding.

Funeral services took place Monday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. at the United Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian, with the Rev. Art Wiese officiating. Interment was in the Community Cemetery at Lake Lillian.

There was visitation Sunday, Nov. 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the K-M Funeral Home in Lake Lillian; and it continued Monday at the church for one hour prior to the service.

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