Wallace “Wally” Neil Gulbrandson

Wallace "Wally" Neil Gulbrandson was born June 6, 1943 on the family farm near Herman, Minnesota to parents Lloyd and Mildred (Nelson) Gulbrandson. He was baptized and confirmed at Konsvinger Lutheran Church, rural Donnelly. Wally attended country school district 20 near Hoffman and high school in Herman, where he graduated in 1961. Wally attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis. Wally married Marjorie Lusty September 4, 1964 at Spruce Hill Church in rural Miltona. Their marriage was blessed by the births of three children; Julia, Brian and Kia.

The family resided in Alexandria, where Wally was active on their church council. Over his career Wally worked for the State of Minnesota as a Sales Tax Examiner and later worked for Helper Box Company, Gamble Robinson, Culligan Water Care, Country Hearth, Barrell-o-Fun and Dairyland. For the last 21 years of his career he was an over the road truck driver for Magnum Trucking, where he received a Safe Driving Award.

Wally married Beverly (Bev) Christenson at Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton, Minnesota June 7, 1997. They were blessed with twenty-two years of adventure living in Fargo, Minneapolis and Alexandra. In recent years they enjoyed their winters in Sun City, Arizona and summers in Minnesota.

Wally was a spiritually centered man who faithfully attended church. Wally was most content visiting with family, on the road behind the wheel of any vehicle, relaxing with a book or newspaper and a cup of coffee. Wally was able to visit all fifty states, several European countries and even Thailand to attend the wedding of his step-son.

Wally was diagnosed with ALS on October 4, 2019 and as the disease rapidly progressed he desired to return from Arizona to Minnesota. Wally died en route, in Pratt, Kansas on Monday, January 27, 2020. He had reached the age of 76 years and 7 months.

Wally is survived by wife of twenty-two years, Beverly (Bev) Gulbrandson; daughter, Julia Ann Bongers; son, Brian Neil (Jen) Gulbrandson; daughter, Kia Marie (Tom) Woida; eight grandchildren, Declan Bongers, Mason Bongers, Abigale Bongers, Rylie Stenstrom, Reece Gulbrandson, Gavin Gulbrandson, Justin Woida and Alex Woida; sisters, Dianna Gulbrandson (special-friend Richard Klason), Vickie (Jim) Foster and Kathleen (Richard) Bullick; sisters-in-law, Betty Gulbrandson and Julia Gulbrandson; step-brothers, Roger (Karen) Quick, Loren Quick and Daryl Quick; step-children, Larry (Kwan) Christenson and Steven Christenson (DeLynn Lalli); step-grandchildren, Natasha Christenson and RaHeim Hampton; and step-great-grandchildren; ZyHeim Chistenson and Linda Thomas.

Wally was proceeded in death by his parents, Lloyd Gulbrandson and Mildred Gulbrandson; step-mother Beverly Gulbrandson; brothers, Kenneth Gulbrandson and Darrell (Shirley) Gulbrandson; son-in-law, Steven Bongers; step-daughter, Linda Christenson and step- great-grandson, Brandon Christenson.

A private family graveside interment will be at the Appleton City Cemetery at a future date.