Donald George Gilbertson

Donald George Gilbertson, 78, passed away on March 14, 2007 in Rancho Mirage, CA. He was born June 27, 1928 in Havre, MT, the only child of George Gilbertson and Gladys "Toots" Stamey Gilbertson.

The family moved to Alaska when he was two years old. Don was a very well respected pilot and aviation entrepreneur with many "firsts" in the industry. Don accumulated almost 30,000 hours before he was fifty years old. He began his career as a Line Pilot for Wien Airlines in 1952 and then went onto a successful firebombing career starting with two B25J bombers in 1967. One is located in the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Don designed and test flew the first civilian fire bomber in 1970, a DC-6B otherwise known as "Delta One," He demonstrated Delta One all over the western United States as well as Alaska. Don introduced the Lockheed L382 to bush flying (aka "Herc") about the time of the Prudhoe Bay discovery working for Jim and Dottie Magoffin. He trained the crews and delivered their first new Herc to Alaska.

In 1972 Don started Pacific Alaska Airlines to take advantage of the oil boom and managed Pacific Alaska into a very successful company. In the early 1980's he went on to become President of Western Airlines and was instrumental in setting up the Salt Lake City Hub.

In recent years Don was credited in bringing the Dehavilland Beaver into the 21st century by having a cargo door designed for the Beaver. He was an active pilot until the last years of his life and his stories were always about flying. Don enjoyed the family cabins at Fielding Lake (the middle of the Alaska Range), Healy Lake as well as Desert Hot Springs.

Don was a life-time member of the Pioneers of Alaska, Fairbanks and a QB. Don and Nancy enjoyed the annual Alaskan Super Bowl party in Desert Hot Springs this year and in the past with all their Alaskan friends. He just loved the people. Don had maintained a home and a lifestyle in the desert for most of the past 40 years.

Don was preceded in death by his parents as well as an infant daughter Kristin. He is survived by three children and six grandchildren all of Fairbanks, Alaska; Robbie Gilbertson, Danny Gilbertson (Marguerita) and Dawn Gilbertson (Craig) Thompson; grandchildren, Ryan, Nichole and Kristin Thompson; Derek, Gabrielle and Shayne Gilbertson. Don leaves a host of other relatives including cousins Aubrey Bruning, June (Bunts) Watkins, Helen (Jim) Miller, John (Leslie) Pentland, and George (Marge) Pentland as well as Leslie Soderling and dearest friend Nancy Rosin.

The family especially thanks friends and caregivers Dr. Eric Jenson and Nancy Rosin and all his many friends who stayed in touch over the years. A celebration of his life will be conducted by the Pioneers of Alaska, friends and family in Fairbanks mid May. Don asked that his ashes be spread over Healy Lake. Donations may be made to the Palm Springs Air Museum in his name: 745 N. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, California, 92262.