Ellen Gilbertson

Ellen Gilbertson, age 97, of Erwin, SD, passed away on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at Avantara in Lake Norden, SD.

A private Celebration of Life will be held by the family at a later date.

Ellen Gilbertson was born on June 9, 1927, to Paul and Francis Skelton. She was born only a few minutes after her twin brother, Elwood. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, Dr. Louis R. and Caroline Truman of Bryant, SD. Ellen worked for many years at the De Smet Memorial Hospital and later on at the Lake Norden Care Center.

In 1943, Ellen was married to Maynard Gilbertson and resided on a farm southwest of Bryant, SD. To this union, they had two children, Keath and Gloria. Later on, they moved into Erwin, SD, where Ellen remained until she fell in January of 2023, after which she moved into Silver Plains Assisted Living in Lake Preston, SD.

Ellen was a member of West Bethany Lutheran Church until its closing and later joined the UCC Church in Erwin, SD. She loved her cats and enjoyed riding in the golf cart with her good friend, Betty. She was also a member of the Chit ‘n Chat club where a group of ladies got together once a month for an afternoon of coffee and fellowship. Ellen enjoyed the holidays with Christmas being her favorite and loved baking all kinds of pies and goodies for everyone to enjoy as well as cooking up the traditional turkey dinner.

She is survived by her children, Keath Gilbertson and Gloria Virchow; two half-brothers, Bob Moffit and Reed Skelton; two half-sisters, Norita Henneman and Gloria Fortin; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Maynard; parents, Paul Skelton and Francis Howland; sister, Margot (Truman) Lubensky; twin brother, Elwood Truman; brother, Frank Moffit; five half-siblings: Annette Chasteen, Gerald, LeRoy, Maxine and Neal Moffit.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel           www.crawfordosthus.com

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