Wilbert Gall

Mundwiler Funeral Home announces the death of Wilbert Gall, age 86, of Milbank, SD a former Jamestown, ND resident. Wilbert Gall died June 16th at the Milbank Area Hospital Avera Health. Funeral services will be Monday, June 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church in Milbank. Rev. DeVern Schwenn will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in the Highland Home Cemetery in Jamestown, ND on Tuesday, June 23rd at 11:00 a.m. Military honors will be provided by the V.F.W. Post # 760, Jamestown, ND. Visitation will be Sunday at Mundwiler Funeral Home from 5 – 7 p.m. and continue at the church on Monday, one hour prior to the service. Casket bearers will be: Dennis Gall, Joel Gutensohn, Tyler Gall, Kyle Gall, Justin Cain, Duane Peschong and Ron Lundborg. A eulogy will be given by LeRoy Gall.

Wilbert Clarence Gall was born March 13, 1923. He was the oldest son in a family of nine children from Wishek, ND. His parents were John and Caroline (Stockburger) Gall. Wilbert attended school in Wishek. He helped with the family farm from 1930, to 1945, cultivating, harvesting and raising livestock until he entered the United States Army during World War II. He served as a surgical technician with the 369th Station Hospital in Saipan in 1945. When his father became ill in 1946, he returned to the states to help with the family farm.

He married Edna Kurtz on September 28, 1947, at Kulm, ND on the bride’s mother’s 55th birthday. They started their life together on his farm southeast of Kulm, but moved to Jamestown, ND by the next year. Wilbert began working for Ottertail Power Company in 1947, a company he continued with until he retired as a Chief Operator in 1985. Ottertail transferred him to Milbank, SD in 1974, to the new Big Stone Plant, where he worked until he retired.

One of the hardest difficulties Wilbert faced in his life was losing his wife Edna to cancer on March 8, 1979. He spent years alone, but was fortunate to meet and marry Pearl (Dolly) Peschong on October 3, 1992. They resided in Milbank all these years.

Wilbert enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. He spent free time working on his acre of lawn along the lake. He was able to fix anything and if he could not, he would figure if out. In fact, he did all his home maintenance until he was 84. He owned a 1947 John Deere M tractor for 50 years. He continued to use the tractor in a landscaping business, both in Jamestown and later in Milbank. When he could no longer enjoy a round of golf, he would use his golf cart in his fall leaf collections.

When he took early retirement at age 62 and still wanted to work, he approached the city of Milbank and asked if they would loan him the equipment, he would revitalize the city’s Farley Park and lake area. He enjoyed three years working on the project and the city rewarded him by naming a street through the park after him.

When the family lived in Jamestown, he was part of the Trustee Board of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, serving as Chairman for years. He was chairman of the Building Committee when the congregation built a new church and parsonage.

Wilbert spent his life with a strong work ethic and commitment to family and was very proud of his children and their accomplishments. We have been so proud to call him Dad. We will miss all his advice and help on our home projects.

This last year watching him lose so much of his memory has been hard. We thank the staff at Golden Living Center in Milbank for their care of Dad these last months.

Wilbert Gall is survived by his wife, Dolly of Milbank; his three children: Linda (Joel) Gutensohn of Bismarck, ND; Nancy Haarstad of Bloomington, IL; Dennis (Heidi) Gall of Watertown, SD; four grandchildren:Charles (Heather) Gutensohn of Camp Pendleton, CA; Robin (Justin) Cain of Murrieta, CA; Tyler (Melissa) Gall of Milbank, SD; Kyle Gall of Watertown, SD; one great granddaughter: Liana Elizabeth; seven brothers and sisters: Lillian (Albert) Gebhardt of Orem, UT; Norm (Marge) Gall of Fargo, ND; Ed (Colleen) Gall of Coquille, OR; Lue Struble of Jamestown, ND; Ardella (Dennis) Justice of Surprise, AZ; LeRoy (Georgine) Gall of Plymouth, MN; and Delores (Ron) Roorda of Jamestown, ND. His brother, Ervin preceded him in death.

Mundwiler Funeral Home of Milbank is in charge of the arrangements for Wilber Gall. To send an electronic condolence visit www.mundwilerfuneralhome.net. The family prefers memorials be given to Central United Methodist Church, Milbank, SD; the Milbank Fire Department or the Milbank Fireworks Display.

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