Dr. Bryce Gilbertson

Dr. Bryce A. Gilbertson 1925-2017

Dr. Bryce Allen Gilbertson passed away on December 12 at his home in Dellwood, Minnesota at the age of 92. He was preceded in death by sisters Hope Herzfeldt and Donna Schmidt. He is survived by his wife of 68 years Jeanne Gilbertson, son Peter (Mary) Gilbertson of Dellwood, son Jeff Gilbertson of Boise, Idaho, and sister Faye Sahr of Minneapolis.
He was the beloved grandfather of Hannah and Louis Gilbertson (Peter and Mary), and Ellen, Anna, and Amy Gilbertson (Jeff and Deb).

Bryce was born in Luverne, Minnesota on October 6, 1925, the third of four children. He graduated from Luverne High School and enlisted in the Navy at age 17 as an apprentice seaman. He was subsequently accepted as a U.S. Naval Air Cadet and completed his training as a Hellcat fighter pilot as World War II concluded. He remained in the Naval Air Reserve until 1952.

He met the love of his life, Jeanne Swoboda of St. Paul, when they both attended the University of Minnesota. They married in 1949.

Under the GI Bill he earned a B.S. degree in Zoology at the University of Minnesota, and graduated from Dental School (D.D.S.) at the University of Minnesota in 1952. He subsequently completed a masters (M.S.D.) degree in dentistry at the same institution in 1957. He practiced oral surgery in St. Paul for over thirty years.

Bryce was active in multiple professional and civic societies including the St. Paul District Dental Society, the Minnesota Society of Oral Surgeons, Rotary, and Gyro.

Bryce was an avid hunter and fisherman and took trips to northern Minnesota, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and Canada. He loved his duck camp at Beck Lake near Cushing, Minnesota. He sailed across the Atlantic in a 34-foot boat with three friends at age 63. He loved White Bear Lake, water skiing, snow skiing and sailing. His farm in western Wisconsin was his passion in retirement. He enjoyed countless hours on his tractor, and many more building, fencing, painting and caring for his horses.

Bryce was an active, optimistic and can-do person. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious. He was a force of nature that filled the room with his personality and spirit. He and his beloved wife Jeanne were a team for 68 years. They had a wide circle of devoted friends. He was an inspiration to his wife, his sons and their children. He will be greatly missed by all.

Memorials preferred to Ducks Unlimited, Minnesota Chapter, Rescue Our Wetlands Campaign, One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN 38120 (www.ducks.org)

A memorial service will be held at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, 60 Kent Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102 at 11 AM Saturday, December 30, 2017 .