Royce Gilbertson

Royce J. Gilbertson, 88, longtime Libby resident, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, at the Libby Care Center.

He had been among the founding members of the Alcohol Service Center of Lincoln County (later Recovery Northwest) and had served as its first manager and a counselor until his retirement on Oct. 10, 1985.

He was born at LaCrosse, Wisc., on Aug. 11, 1917, to Joel and Anice (Zedekar) Gilbertson. He graduated high school at Steamboat Rock, Iowa in 1936. He was the youngest licensed butter maker in the state of Wisconsin.

He joined the US Army during World War II and worked as a cook. After his honorable discharge He worked as a sawyer for J. Neils Lumber Co and then worked as an independent logger.

He enjoyed fly fishing. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Margo Irwin, on Nov. 10, 2000, and a grandson, Rick Stapley Jr., on Sept. 16, 1998.

Survivors include two daughters, Rene Stapley and husband Rick of Troy and Sue Chance of Columbia, Md.; grandchildren Aaron, Ashley, Kevin, Scott, Christian, Alyisia; and three great-grandchildren.

Services were held on Thursday, Jan. 26. The Nelson & Vial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.