Bruce Allan Gilbertson
Bruce Allan Gilbertson passed away, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at his home with his beloved wife, Sue, by his side.
Services will be held, Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church with a visitation held one hour prior. Pastor Tim Mantei will be officiating. Interment will be held at the Bagley City Cemetery at a later date. Military Rites will be accorded by the Irvin Blix American Legion Post #16 of Bagley, MN.
Bruce was born on October 22, 1954, in Brainerd, Minnesota to Harlan and Trudy Gilbertson. His life was filled with many travels and adventures, starting with moving to Ethiopia from 1960-1968, where his parents were missionaries in Tigre Provence. He stayed at a Mennonite boarding school and attended Good Shepard School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during his elementary years. They travelled to Norway to meet family and visited many other European countries. From there the family moved to Alaska, then Mexico, and returning to the Bagley area in 1970. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He went to Minerva Country School and then Bagley High School, where he excelled at wrestling and track. He helped his dad on the farm and loved all kinds of animals. He was always singing to his cats and dog. His dogs always wanted to be by his side.
From 1974-1978, Bruce proudly served in the United States Coast Guard, then served two years in the reserves. He loved the Coast Guard and regretted not staying in longer. He was a coxswain and worked doing search and rescue. He continued to love the water.
Bruce’s primary work was working for Tower Systems building communication towers, which took him back to Africa several times, to South America, Mexico, Hawaii, and many other states and countries. He cherished many good times with his friends and coworkers and always spoke fondly of them with many stories.
Bruce married the love of his life, Susan Strandlien Willborg on November 24, 2001, at the Strandlien Farm in Shevlin. He gained a large extended family and adored his stepchildren Jake and Amie Willborg. Bruce and Sue later gained a daughter-in-law, and 4 wonderful grandchildren. They brought him so much joy as he watched them play and listened to their adventures and stories; Papa Bruce lived for those snapchat videos, laughing loudly and watching on repeat.
Getting together with the Gilbertson family always meant lots of stories from days in Africa and other places they lived, always so much fun to listen to. Often time would have an Ethiopian meal made of Watt and Injera, spicy chicken meal.
After decades of travel, Bruce most loved being at home with his wife. He was always working on something in the yard, house of shop. He would spend hours on his tractor, one of his favorite activities. He enjoyed camping, hunting, snowmobiling, and fishing (or let’s just call it pontoon riding). Bruce watched anything on TV that he could learn more about history, military, air and space; any documentaries that he could learn about the universe.
Bruce was a kind, humble man who appreciated everything. He had so many interesting stories to tell from his life experiences. He had such strength in his long battle with cancer, never complaining and never giving up the fight. He loved life and continued to make plans for the future until his last days. Bruce always kept a strong faith and that faith brought him and his loved ones so much comfort.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Harlan and Trudy Gilbertson; sister, Christy Koosman; brother-in-law, Don Koosman; sister-in-law, Bonnie Gilbertson; and brother-in-law, Duane Strandlien.
He is survived by his loving wife, Sue; stepchildren, Jake (Anna) Willborg and Amie Willborg; grandchildren, Evan and Bria Willborg and Matthew and Jackson Willborg; brother, Gary Gilbertson; sister, Karen (David) Ginter; father and mother-in-law, Norris and Lila Strandlien; brothers-in-law, Donnie, Craig and Lyle Strandlien; numerous nieces and nephews who all held a special place in his heart.
Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com