James Gilbery

The tools are still,
The books put back on the shelf,
No more wood chips on the floor,
No more puzzles to figure out and copy.
James William Gilbery, 86, died Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at Chandler House in Yakima, WA. Jim was born July 8, 1928 to George and Bertha Kleveland Gilbery. He was raised in rural Moorhead and Georgetown, Minnesota. His Georgetown home had been the location of the Hudson Bay Trading Post on the Red River of the North, where he would hunt and find many coins, arrowheads and other artifacts of the 1600 to 1800s.
After graduation from Moorhead High School, 1946, he farmed with his family a short time before entering the Army in 1951, serving in Korea. After service, he graduated in engineering from North Dakota Agricultural College, now NDSU.
Jim married Donna Kvien of Roseau Co., MN in 1955 and together they have three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, the second one born on the day of Jim’s death. Upon graduation from college, Jim was hired by the Bureau of Reclamation. The family lived in Bismarck, ND, Yuma, AZ, Boise, ID and lastly Yakima, WA where he retired after 30 years. In retirement, Jim was kept busy with reading, travel, and woodworking of many types, especially Norwegian projects. Jim could always fix what needed to be fixed, after all, one did not buy new if there was any way to fix it.
Jim was a longtime member of Tree of Life Lutheran in Terrace Heights and Sons of Norway, always helping with the annual lutefisk dinner.
Survivors include wife Donna, three children, Judy David Cluckie, Scotland, Jeri Matt Wentz, Lake Stevens, WA, Timothy Sue Gilbery, Kirkland, WA, six grandchildren, Jenneli Michael Muller-Mink, of Australia, Natasha Derek Denny-Brown, Seattle, WA, Zach Wentz, Dani Wentz, of Lake Stevens, WA, Patrick Gilbery, Tempe, AZ, Bonnie Gilbery, Bozeman, MT, two great-grandchildren, Korben August and Aidan Asher Denny-Brown of Seattle, WA, four siblings, Mavis Ray Jacobson, Park Rapids, MN, Glenn DeEtta Gilbery, Georgetown, MN, Phyllis Nelson and Virginia Edgar Wright of Moorhead, MN, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Bertha Gilbery.
We wish to thank Memorial Hospice and Chandler House for their dedicated care and concern during Jim’s short stay.
Jim’s body was donated to the Willed Body Program at the University of Washington.
Memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 20, 11 am at Tree of Life Lutheran, 410 37th Street in Terrace Heights. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Washington Chapter, 100 West Tower, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98119, Memorial Hospice Care, Tree of Life Lutheran or a charity of your choice.