Mylo Gilbertson

On May 2nd, 2023, Mylo Wayne Gilbertson, 93, passed away in his home, surrounded by family.

Mylo was born December 1, 1929 to Luella and Alfred Gilbertson in Kathryn , ND. He attended school until the 8th grade, when he left to work for a local farmer. He enlisted in the Military when he was 17 years old and served for 2 years with honorable discharge.

Mylo was a man of many talents. After his years of service, he began trucking, starting his career in Louisiana for several years, before moving back to North Dakota. His talent of precision and attention to detail was put to good use during the time he worked with his brothers in carpentry. He then went back to trucking with Standard Oil for 22 years. Never a man to sit still for long, he opened a saw sharpening service on the side, then moved into small engine repair; a job he would do for 50 years. A master of creativity and ingenuity, he would often make his own tools or modify existing tools to get the job done. Mylo’s repair shop wasn’t complete without a cat named “cat”. Over the years, the cat changed, but the name never did. Mylo’s ability to fix the unfixable made him a local legend, sending many customers to the shop. New acquaintances, family and friends were invited into his “break room”. There they would be greeted with an endless supply of coffee and oreos or peanut butter cookies. Mylo could strum his 6-string Harmony guitar with a sound sweet as honey. His love for music and story-telling allowed him to play in many bands including “The Outlaws”, “The Combinations”, “The Bounty Hunters”, and many others.

In 1991, Mylo met his future wife, Dawn (Baker), whom he would affectionately refer to as his “Pretty Woman”. The next 32 years together would be filled with sweet little notes left on anything and everything, tinkering together in the shop, and lunch dates to the “Greasy Spoon” wearing his iconic snap button western shirts, jeans and boots.

His greatest achievement was raising his kids. With his first wife Patsy (Strand), he welcomed 6 children: Michael, Ronald, Daniel, Vicki, Jodi, and Karmen. With his second wife Lorraine (Waisanen), he welcomed Travis. Lorraine brought to the family 4 bonus children: Rick, Tom, Diane, and Jon. His marriage to Dawn brought 3 more bonus children: Heather, Brittany, and Danielle.

Over the 45 years his kids were at home, he instilled his strong work ethic, witty one-liners, and tenacity. The ability to make massive batches of peanut butter cookies in a 5 gallon bucket with a modified paint mixer was the perfect recipe for his oldest daughters to become master cookie makers. All of his kids became well-versed in hauling, splitting, and throwing wood in preparation for his least favorite season: Winter.

Early on in his life, gardening was a necessity and a chore, but as he grew older, he showed his love by spoiling his family and friends with the fruits of his labor. He would give you a quick lift to the garden on his one and only utility vehicle: the ancient 3 wheeled golf cart, modified to haul chainsaws, gas cans, or anything else he needed. There he would fill your bag with carrots, tomatoes, potatoes and more.  The only thing you wouldn't find in his garden was a watermelon, as he'd chuckle and say he'd had his fill of them after hauling truckload after truckload down south.

In the last few months of Mylo’s life he was surrounded by family and friends who loved him dearly. While one of his favorites, Paul Harvey, would sign off with the phrase “Good Day”, Mylo would add, “A day is too short; have a great life.” A fan of science and engineering, he chose to donate his body to UND School of Medicine.

Preceded in death by: his son Ronald; Brothers Gordon, Donald, Wesley, Norman; Sister Audrey; Parents Alfred and Luella

Survived by: his wife Dawn; his children Mike (Kim Murray), Dan (Jill), Vicki Nitschke (Rick Diede), Jodi (Kevin) Reuther, Karmen (Todd) Whitney, Travis (Jayla); step-children Rick Waisanen, Tom (Tracy) Waisanen, Dianne (Steve) Bossert, Jon (Lori) Waisanen, Heather (Nathan) Gunderson, Brittany (Corey) Gannarelli, and Danielle (Jayden) Chuppe; sister Ruth;brothers Dennis and Harold; and numerous grandchildren and great grand-children.

Celebration of life will be held on May 20th, 2023 from 1-4 p.m. at the Senior Center located at 419 5th ST NE Jamestown, ND 58401.  Please enter through the doors of the old hospital building across from Lincoln Elementary school.

In lieu of flowers, please send monetary donations to your local Hospice program. Hospice was instrumental with their support and compassion in the final months of Mylo’s life, and we will forever be grateful.