Lawrence Norman Gilbertson

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Lawrence Gilbertson Obituary

Lawrence Norman Gilbertson

Lawrence Norman Gilbertson, former Snohomish High School Agriculture teacher, passed away in Spokane, WA, on March 19, 2009, at the age of 91. Born on August 16, 1917 to Edward and Pauline Gilbertson, he grew up with three sisters, two brothers, and many nearby relatives in the small farming community of Charlson, ND. He attended the North Dakota Agricultural College during the Great Depression, graduating in 1940 with a BS in Agricultural Economics. He headed to Seattle, WA, where he worked as an immigrant inspector for the Department of Justice before being drafted into the Army during WWII. He served two and a half years in Northern France and Central Europe, including the aftermath of the Normandy Invasion. After the war, he worked various unfulfilling jobs before attending WSU to qualify to teach Agriculture to WWII veterans at SHS. His career at SHS would last from 1948 to 1978, teaching Ag, farm shop, and initiating a successful Ornamental Horticulture program. He was extremely proud of his FFA affiliations and the success of his students.
Larry met Jean Rademacher, a Home Economics teacher from Tieton, WA, at WSU summer school and they were married June 23, 1951. They had five children and built several homes in Snohomish, WA, as their family and farming grew. Larry and Jean loved feeding their family fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, and meat produced on their own land. They were also active in Christ the King Lutheran Church.
Retiring in 1978, the couple moved to Orient, WA where they built a several homes, a store, restaurant, and laundromat, and Larry had a nursery. In 1993, they moved to Rockwood Retirement Communities in Spokane, WA. Here he was able to continue his horticulture talents and he was active in the Spokane Garden Club and his church. His other hobbies were candymaking and his computer.
He was preceded in death by his son, Peter in 1976; his wife, Jean in 2006; his parents; and siblings.
He is survived by his children, Cathryne (Lon) Warnock, Laurie (Prem) Radheshwar, David (Marilyn) Gilbertson, and Paula (Paul) Jones; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service celebrating the lives of Lawrence and Jean Gilbertson will be held at 4 p.m., on Saturday, April 18, 2009, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1305 Pine Ave., Snohomish, 98290. They fondly remembered their many students, friends and neighbors from the years they lived in Snohomish.

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Published by The Herald (Everett) on Apr. 11, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Lawrence Gilbertson

6 Entries

Lynnae Kasch Rodeffer

April 18, 2009

Mr. Gilbertson had a huge impact on many of our lives. He taught us students how to be excellent, how to be leaders, and instilled in us a pride in our community. Amazingly, he did all of this while giving us the lattitude to have fun and experience some of the best times of our lives. We traveled all over the state, into Canada, and back to national convention in Kansas City winning many awards and contests along the way.

More than the awards though, it is the comaraderie and sense of community that I look back on so fondly. Pig Roasts at Stocker Field, FFA Camping trips, delivering flowers we'd grown in the greenhouse to local businesses, the annual fryer contest and fried chicken dinner to thank our community supporters, pitching in to help other members showing at the livestock show and fairs with their herdsmanship duties; and the time we were traveling to a contest in Canada where a hay truck lost it's load at the border - and fortunately for that driver, the Snohomish FFA van was behind him. Mr. Gilbertson (Uncle Larry as we affectionately referred to him)put us straight to work helping load that hay back onto the semi before we packed back into the van and continued on our way.

Thanks Uncle Larry for all of the wonderful memories and life experiences, and thanks to the family for sharing him with us. We are such richer people for having known him.

Brenda Kosinski

April 16, 2009

Uncle Larry and Aunt Jean hold such a very special place in my heart and I'll never forget the summer that I spent with them in Orient during such a turbulent time in my life.
God bless the family with great comfort, Brenda

Mary Douglas

April 13, 2009

Dave, Marilyn and Family - We are SOOO sorry for your loss! Words cannot express all the empathy we have for you at this time....
God Bless,
Mary Ann Douglas, Tyler and Trevor Eaton

Lance Imboden

April 13, 2009

Larry Gilberton was one of the best teachers I had at Snohomish High School. He not only helped me get my first job at a local nursery, he also helped me with many projects in FFA. Under his guidence, our high school Agriculture Program participated in the first Horticulture Contest at Mariner High School. He was a real good human being. My prayers to Dave and all his family

MARK STROH

April 11, 2009

LARRY GILBERTSON WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE ALL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND AFTER. I WAS AN FFA MEMBER FROM 1964 TO 1968 AND OUR CHAPTER WAS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE IN THE STATE, THANKS TO GILB. HE HAULED US ALL OVER THE STATE FOR JUDGING CONTESTS AND FAIRS AND PARLIMENTARY CONTESTS OR PUBLIC SPEAKING DOS. IN THOSE DAYS THE FFA BANQUET AND AWARDS CEREMONY AND THE KIWANIS AIDED CHICKEN CONTEST/DINNER WERE TWO OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN SNOHOMISH AND GILB PUT IN MANY HOURS TO INCLUDE ALL OF US PARTICIPATING AND KEEP THE EVENTS UP TO QUALITY. HE GAVE US ALL SUPPORT ON OUR FFA PROJECTS AND KEPT US HEADED IN A TIME HONORED DIRECTION. THE TEACHINGS AND THE MEMORIES AND THE ACHIEVMENTS HE GAVE US ALL ARE MONUMENTAL. GILB IS ONE TEACHER/FRIEND THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY ME. THE GREAT GARDEN IN THE SKY HAS ADDED A VERY VALUABLE ESSENCE.

Jack Salvadalena

April 11, 2009

Peace and love to all of Larry's family as you mourn his passing and celebrate his memorable life.

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