Roy Gilbert,­­­ of Grand Forks, ND, formerly of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, at the age of 90.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN, with Rev. Mark Helgeland officiating.  Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN.  Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post 117, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793, and the Minnesota Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday at the funeral home.

Roy Ervin Gilbert, the son of Fleet and Helga (Fridberg) Gilbert was born on September 22, 1927 on his parent's farm near Grygla, MN.  Roy attended Marshall County Elementary School and Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, MN.

In 1952 Roy drafted into the United States Army and served with the 6 ^th Armored Division in Fort Leonard Wood, MO.  Upon returning home from the service, he worked for a bridge company in Fargo, ND.  In 1956, Roy went to work for Stordahl Truck Lines in Thief River Falls, MN, where he worked for 27 years as a truck driver and diesel mechanic.

Roy married Ruth Johnson on March 1, 1959 in Oklee, MN.  To this union 3 children were born.  They made their home in Thief River Falls, MN for 57 years.

He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church where he served on numerous boards and committees.

Roy retired in 1983 and he and Ruth spent the next 23 winters in Southern Texas.  Roy enjoyed many hours playing his guitar at jam sessions and building mission houses in Progreso, Mexico.

Roy will be deeply missed by his wife, Ruth; daughter, Julie (Butch) Riske; sons, Jerol Gilbert and Jeff (Kim) Gilbert; grandchildren, Lindsay (Tom), Leah (Travor), Cassandra (Darren), JR, and Michael; great-grandchildren, Lydia, Eli, and Mac.  He is also survived by his sister, Irene Platt of Hibbing, MN, and several nieces and nephews.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, George (Myrtle), Lawrence (Eloise) and Vernon; brother-in-law, Pete Platt.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer's Association.