Ralph Allen Gilbertson Jr.

 Ralph Gilbertson was born October 6, 1943, in Willmar, MN, to Adeline and Ralph Gilbertson, and passed away at Essentia on August 15, 2023.  He married Kay Johnson on May 2, 1964.  He graduated from SDSU in Brookings in 1968 and went to work for LA County in California.  They moved to Moorhead in 1970 and he worked for several construction companies in the area and retired from Industrial Builders in 2007.

He is survived by his wife, Kay, and their 3 children: Sheila-Carl Wirtsfeld, Matt-Kim and their children, Ashlyn, Tate and Ava, Ryan and his daughter, Evelyn, her mother, Elizabeth Vig and her son, Jayden.  He is also survived by siblings:  Joyce Bredeson, Loretta-Dave Ostenso and sister-in-law Thea Gilbertson, brother-in-law Rick-Kathy Johnson and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Mark and son-in-law, Myron Dewey; in-laws Pat Knutson and Tim Johnson and nephews, Scott Bredeson and Eric Johnson. 

Ralph loved watching his kids and grandkids’ sports and activities.  He enjoyed spending time with family and friends bowling, playing cards, camping, going on cruises and occasional casino trips.  He liked to watch football, hockey, volleyball, and lacrosse.  He liked to read and feed the birds and felt blessed when the cardinals came in the winter. 

A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 2:00 P.M., with visitation for one hour before the service, at Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead.