Obituary of Velma Lee Gilbert

Velma Lee Gilbert

                                                    July 22, 1934 - May  13, 2025

Velma Lee Gilbert, age 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 13th while on hospice at her son and daughter-in-laws home in Shakopee, MN. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Velma was born on July 22, 1934 to Charles and Maudie Whitman of Younger Bend, OK. She grew up to marry Lawrence Dale Gilbert of Leon Junction, TX on February 4, 1952. They went on to have 4 children and would soon be off for many adventures across the world as a family; including but not limited to living in Australia and New Zealand!

Velma loved life! She loved the holidays and all the decorations for the seasons. She loved her home on Fort Myers Beach, which she referred to as heaven on earth. She had a joy of taking and surrounding herself with pictures of family, friends and memories of her life’s adventures. She was an avid reader, including her bible and daily devotions. Her nightly prayer has been “Thank you for the husband you gave me, thank you for the kids you gave me, and thank you for the life you gave me.”

She was the biggest fan of Hallmark movies, or any movie with a happy ending! She had a great sense of humor, limitless generosity, and a heart of gold! But most of all she loved her children and grandchildren.

Velma is survived by her brother Jerry (Yvonne) Whitman of Iowa Park, TX, sister-in-law Mary Gilbert of Muskogee, OK, her children: Gary (Diana) Gilbert of LeSueur, MN, Janet (Frank) Moriarty of LeSueur, MN; their son Ryan Moriarty (Emily) Moriarty of Highlands Ranch, CO, son Joe (Marcia) Gilbert of Shakopee, MN, grandchildren Matt Kreuser (great grandson Jacob), Katy Kreuser (great granddaughter Brooklyn; great-great grandson Owen) of LeSueur, MN, Russel (Erica) - (great grandson Elliot) of Burnsville, MN, and Jossie Gilbert of LeSueur MN special nieces Debbie Gava of Rosamond, CA and Brenda Braid of Newark, TX; along with several other nieces and nephews. She will be missed greatly by many whose lives she has touched  throughout her life.

Velma was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Maudie Whitman, her husband Lawrence (Dale) Gilbert, most of her siblings, her grandson Ethan Gilbert, and her daughter Suzanne Gilbert.

Velma’s remains will be cremated, and a memorial/celebration of life will be held at a later date on Fort Myers Beach, FL.