Lyle V. Gilbertson, 100, of Minnewaukan, ND passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at the Eventide Healthcare Center in Devils Lake, ND.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, May 15, 2026 at the North Viking Lutheran Church in Maddock, ND.  Casual dress is welcome. Interment will be at the St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery, rural Minnewaukan, ND. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery Fund: 4580 55th Avenue Maddock, ND.

Lyle Vernon was born to Carl E. and Gina (Helgeson) Gilbertson on September 22, 1925 in Eldon Township. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church and attended Eldon Township School.

From the time he was a boy to a young man, he worked with his father on the farm. He would occasionally work, part-time, for his uncle in Decorah, Iowa, where he met Helen Wheatman.  They were united in marriage on October 12, 1948 at the Decorah Lutheran Parsonage in Decorah, Iowa.

Lyle and Helen lived on the home place in rural Minnewaukan where they engaged in grain farming, milking cows, and raising a few beef cows as well as some hogs and chickens, as most farmers did at that time.  The couple were members of the St. Olaf Church where Lyle served on the church council. He also served on the Eldon Township Board.  They raised two children, Carolyn and Carl.  Helen passed away in 2018.

Lyle transitioned into solely grain farming. In his 100 years, he went from working with horses in the field and steam engines powering threshing machines, to the early tractors and combines, to newer tractors and combines, to four wheel drive tractors and larger combines, which he loved to operate.  He was able to continue his passion for operating combines well into his 80's when he helped neighbor, Dave Ambers, during harvest. Dave's combine was equipped with GPS, auto steer, and yield monitoring.  Quite a life of change!

He enjoyed watching horse races, rodeos, and shows about vintage farm equipment on TV. He and Helen were able to attend the National Finals Rodeos, with friends, on several occasions, which they both enjoyed.  He also greatly enjoyed being a "gopher" for Donnie Buckmier, where he would sit, for hours, in his pick-up watching equipment in the field.

He lived on the farm until October 2022, when he became a resident of the Maddock Memorial Home.  In August 2023 he moved to the Eventide Healthcare Center, but he never lost interest in what was happening on the farm, right until his final day.

Lyle is survived his daughter, Carolyn (Ron) Gotteberg of Halstad, MN; son, Carl (Marlez) Gilbertson of Minnewaukan, ND;  four grandchildren, Barbara (Chris) Runck, Rebecca (Mike) Kastenbauer, Tamera (Joe May) Reile, and Troy (Sandra) Reile;  10 great grandchildren, Ryan (Danielle), Austin (Zaira), Ashley (Cory), Louis (Koeler), Ellia, Josie, Tyson, Manuel, Sara (Cale), and Steven (Morgan); 10 great-great grandchildren and 1 on the way;  sister, Ardis Klotzbach & sister-in-law Charlotte Wheatman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceeded in death by his wife of 69 years, Helen; his parents, Carl and Gina Gilbertson; father and mother-in-law, Almer and Emma Wheatman; siblings, Edna Haugen, Dorothy Hovden, and Norma Schmid; brothers-in-law, Norvil, Joe, Glen, Richard, and Alvin; sister-in-law, Elsie and husband Elmer Neste.