Althea Lorene (Schuttler) Gilbertson
February 6, 1936 – October 26, 2024
Althea Lorene (Schuttler) Gilbertson, 88, was welcomed into Heaven on October 26, 2024 through her faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ. She resided at home with her husband, Jim, until her last few days which she spent at a memory care facility. Althea was born on February 6, 1936, to Rudy and Jo (Nelsen) Schuttler of Osmond, Nebraska. As an infant, she was baptized and later confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Osmond. She was the eldest of five children (Janice, Marlin, Dwaine and Kathy). The family lived on two farmsteads during her early years at a country school. When she was 11, all the children were enrolled in the new Lutheran school in Osmond.
Farm life provided her with many practical experiences. She learned caregiving as a babysitter for many younger cousins. The girls shared the chores of feeding chickens, gathering eggs, cleaning, cooking, and housekeeping. Soon Althea joined the local 4-H group, led by her mother, and became an accomplished seamstress and baker. She went on to model and sew many garments and eventually won a ribbon at state for a beautiful red wool dress with a detachable cape.
Her favorite subjects in school were English and choir. Although she was often reserved, Althea had fond memories of her roles in the annual class play. As a senior, Althea was chosen as the Homecoming Queen. Her budding interest in nursing led the family doctor to suggest a trial run at the local hospital, and she signed up to be a Candystriper. What a joy and challenge this was for her. She felt deep compassion for hurting people. The order of the hospital with its hierarchy of staff suited her well. She graduated from Osmond High School in 1954 and then enrolled in the Lutheran School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa. Her classmates became lifelong friends during the 3 years toward receiving the pin of a Registered Nurse. Althea was remembered among the other young women for making sure her uniform was spotless and pressed, though sometimes she procrastinated doing her Chemistry homework!
After graduation in 1957, she spent 2 years working as a nurse in Norfolk, Nebraska and in Sacramento, California. During these 2 years she wrote many letters to Jim Gilbertson, the brother of one of her nursing classmates. They were married December 1, 1959. Their first home was in Sweet Home. In 1967 they moved to a 10 acre farm near Lebanon, surrounded by giant fir trees, sheep, rabbits, a pig or two and cattle that tromped through the vegetable garden. Here they raised 3 children – Tamara Jo, Collins Keith, and Clark David, replete with dairy chores, sibling bonding, hearty arguments, and board games around the dining table.
In her years as a homemaker, Althea was an overachiever. She was well known for her weekly homemade bread and scrumptious pies with flaky crusts. Every summer, the kitchen turned into a factory, full of berries, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, beans and corn to preserve. Numerous trips to the basement loaded the cellar shelves for the year. Her famous toasted egg sandwiches were consumed with gusto by humgry packs of boys at the farm! There was always a stack of mending to stitch and she rarely chose to buy new items. As a child of the Depression, Althea grew up watching for bargains and knew how to make do with what they had. She was a very sensitive and gracious lady and often donated to charities for animals, such as guide dogs for the blind. Up through her final months, one of Althea’s best gifts to her family and friends was her enduring labor of love to mail greeting cards. No relative or friend was too distant for a card and gift. She loved to search for the ideal card and spent hours writing to tell people she genuinely cared about them.
Faith in God was Althea’s most precious treasure. Her Bible and hymnal of songs are worn through, cover to cover. She was quick to forgive and apologize, even with her Schuttler stubborn streak! It was her smile that Jim adored from their first meeting. She was not only generous with her money, but also her time and efforts. As a young woman she wanted to be a missionary so that she might help people in need and tell them of the love of Jesus for all. At any moment, she was ready to pray, whether family, friend, stranger or the animal in distress. Prayers of praise and need were often spoken over the phone. As a member of Zion Lutheran Church, one of Althea’s favorite memories was from the Sunday School class she taught when a preschool student could not grasp “Grandma Al’ and instead called her “Grandma Owl”.
In their retirement years, Althea and Jim farmed in central Oregon. She was adept at keeping track of every expense and looking for missing items around the place. She liked to hang laundry on the clothesline and watch it blow in the wind. She and Jim took few vacations, but enjoyed traveling to Nebraska, Hawaii, and the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia and New Zealand. She will be missed by their Jack Russell Terrier, Peppy Girl Irene who anticipated people food at every meal.
The loss we feel is great, for Althea was a woman used by God to touch many lives. We are comforted knowing we will see her again, full of life and love and health. We are forever grateful for what she taught us.
Althea was met at Heaven’s gates by her parents Rudy and Jo Schuttler, her in-laws Earl and Irene Gilbertson, Marlin, Nila, Sharon and Kevan Schuttler, Dick Durant, Jim, Drue, Ace, Judy and Leif Gilbertson and Susan Goldsmith.
She is survived by her husband, Jim, sister, Janice Durant, brother, Dwaine Schuttler, sister, Kathy (Alexander) Hamilton, daughter, Tamara Gilbertson (Morris) and fiance’ Brian Rihner, son, Collins (Suzy) Gilbertson, Clark (Jerra) Gilbertson, grandchildren Sarah Kampman, Hannah (Dane) Salow, Max Gilbertson, Sam Gilbertson, Samantha (Jordan) Keegan, and Greta Gilbertson. Great grandchildren include Ezra Salow, Titus Salow, Savannah Kampman, Eden Jo Salow, Sylvie Jo Kampman, Wesley Keegan and Vera Salow.
Her graveside service will be Saturday, Nov 9 at 11 am and the funeral will be at Zion Lutheran Church in Redmond at 1:30 pm.