Aletha Gerken-Gilbert, age 81 of Woodbury, was welcomed to her heavenly home on Wednesday, May 31st at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. She was born on March 10th, 1942 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin to William and Edith (Sievers) Lampert. She was made a child of God through baptism at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in LaCrosse on March 29th, 1942. Aletha graduated from Central High School in LaCrosse in 1960 and UW LaCrosse in 1964. That same year she married Jack Gerken. She and Jack met at the Citgo gas station where he pumped gas. They built a house in Woodbury, Minnesota where they raised their children Kimberly and Keith.
Aletha was a devoted educator. She taught in public schools for many years. Later in life she was the director and teacher of Promised Land Preschool at Divinity Lutheran Church in St. Paul. She loved teaching little children about Jesus there and at the Divinity Lutheran Sunday School. Jesus used Aletha to touch many lives with his Gospel. Her Savior and her church were very important to her. She will be dearly missed by the members of Divinity Lutheran Church.
Aletha enjoyed crafts and traveling. She sold tickets for the Woodbury Community Theater for many years while Jack helped build the sets. She manually typed the Woodbury Directory back when Woodbury had about 10,000 residents. She was always willing to volunteer at church.
Aletha loved her family. For years she compassionately cared for Jack when he became ill. Jack was taken to heaven on March 21st, 2010. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her delight. On May 12th 2012 she married Steve Gilbert at Divinity Lutheran. They loved to travel. Steve and Aletha became quite skilled at caring for each other as they entered their later years and experienced many health challenges.
Aletha is survived by her husband, Steve of Woodbury; sisters; Martha of LaCrosse, and Norita of Onalaska, Wisconsin; son, Keith (Amy) of Brainerd; daughter Kimberly of Blaine; granddaughter Ashley (Rick) Shackle; grandsons Ryan, Zachary and Joshua; other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, her parents, and brothers Ken and William.
A Christian Funeral will be held at 12:00 PM. on Thursday, June 8th, 2023, at Divinity Lutheran Church, 1655 E. Cottage Ave. in St. Paul. Pastor John C. Berg will officiate with burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. A luncheon will be served following the service in the Divinity Fellowship Hall.
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord!” (Rev 14:13)
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