Marilyn A. Gilbertson, 84, passed away May 20, 2022.

She was born on June 20, 1937 to Dale and Evelyn (Borrman) Strickland in Cumberland, Wisconsin.

Marilyn graduated from Barron High School in 1955. She married Merlin H. Gardner on January 11, 1958 at Cumberland Methodist Church. Marilyn and Merlin lived on a dairy farm north of Barron raising three boys. Hard work, cropping, baling hay and milking cows kept Marilyn and her family occupied during those growing up years. In May of 1982, Marilyn lost her husband Merlin, in a car accident. It was a long recovery for Marilyn and a healing time of her life. She married Howard S. Gilbertson on April 21st, 1990 at the little Brown Church in Iowa. Marilyn and Howard lived in the country north of Barron for several years before moving to the city of Barron. They had a paper route in Barron delivering the Early Bird. Marilyn and Howard took care of a large yard and enjoyed her pretty flowers and bird watching together. Every Wednesday morning Marilyn and Howard would go to the Barron Sales Barn for breakfast. They also took a once in a lifetime trip to Norway with Marilyn’s sisters, Beverly and Shirley. As well as being a farm wife, housewife, and mother, Marilyn worked at numerous different jobs throughout her life. She was a factory worker at Stokely’s and 3M in Cumberland in her younger years, and worked at Gerlands Butter in Rice Lake where ice cream was made. Marilyn also gathered the eggs from Jerome’s turkey farm for a few years. Because of her love for flowers, she was employed at the Tree Frog Greenhouse, near Chetek, for many years and thoroughly enjoyed this. She was a baker and sales person working for Donna Bensend baking pies and buns. Later in life, after Howard’s passing, Marilyn was an early riser and worked the early shift at Menards. She was a poll worker for decades during voting seasons and was active with Meals on Wheels delivery. Marilyn devoted her time serving at the United Methodist Church in Barron. She was part of the UMW and several committees including the seasonal church mercantile, as well as making meals for missions fundraising and many funerals. She volunteered at the gift shop at Mayo Healthcare in Barron. Marilyn was a helper to others in so many ways. When grandchildren were small, she helped to take care of them and treated each one special individually, in only her sweet way. With grown up grandchildren, she helped clean their house when ill and when needed. Marilyn was a treat giver and gift giver to her grandchildren. She was a great friend to those she called her friends and made time for coffee get togethers and luncheons, movie times and stay overs when a friend was ill or needed company. She also drove her friends to their doctor’s appointments. Many times throughout her life, little acts of kindness were what Marilyn was about. She surely had a servants heart to all who knew her.

Surviving are: Sons Rod (Cindy) Gardner, Roger (Debby) Gardner, Rick (Tammy) Gardner. Sister Shirley (Jerry) Olson, Sister-in-law Emma Strickland, Step-daughters Valerie Sutherland, Beverly Goetz, Joan Kraft. Several grandchildren, many more great grandchildren. Nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Preceding are: parents Dale and Evelyn Strickland, husbands Merlin Gardner May 1982 and Howard Gilbertson December 2011. Brother Gene Strickland, Sister Beverly Elledge and brother-in-law Keith Elledge, step son-in-law Dennis Kraft.

Visitation for Marilyn A. Gilbertson will be held on Wednesday evening May 25, 2022 from 4 to 8 pm at Appleyards Home for Funerals in Rice Lake and 10:00am-11:00am at First United Methodist Church in Barron on Thursday.

Funeral services will be Thursday May 26, 2022 at 11:00 am at First United Methodist Church in Barron with burial at Wayside Cemetery in Barron. Lunch will be served at the church.

Last Update: May 24, 2022 2:45 pm CDT