Ila Mae Gilbert, born October 1, 1926 in Alamo, North Dakota to parents Emma and John Lohse passed away after a long illness March 5, 2014 at home with her loving family by her side. She was 87.
Ila Mae grew up in Alamo on the family farm with her sister and 5 brothers. At age 14, the family moved to Williston, ND where she graduated from High School. Ila Mae attended the University Of North Dakota and pledged Delta Zeta Sorority. She graduated in 1948 with a BS in Dietetics and awarded an internship with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Los Angeles.
While in college Ila Mae met her husband Paul Gilbert on a blind date. They Married in August 1950 after Ila completed her internship and 10 days after Paul earned his Industrial Engineering degree from UND. They spent their honeymoon travelling from Williston to Oakland, CA with everything they owned (car and trailer). In Oakland, Ila worked as a Dietician at the Veterans Hospital and Paul worked in the engineering field.
Factory Mutual Engineering relocated the couple to Seattle, WA in 1956 where Ila Mae enjoyed life as a homemaker and mother. She worked at Frederick and Nelson part time in the Christmas department and eventually full time, retiring in 1987 to accompany Paul in his retirement.
Married 61 years to Paul, they travelled the world together; Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Caribbean, seeing the Egyptian pyramids and cruising on the Nile, hot air ballooning in Kenya, sailing on the QE2 to England and then flying back to NY on the Concord. Ila accompanied Paul to many Boy scout events from local and national board meetings to camp inspections throughout the northwest. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Kauai with family and friends. They always returned to their home of 48 years where they loved to work in the garden and spend time with family.
Ila was preceded in death by her husband Paul, brothers Ervin, Loyal, Roy and Vern, grandson Andy Davies. She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Gilbert-Davies (Ken), her son Paul Jr (Sandra), her brother Lester Lohse of Williston ND, her sister Ada (Bill) Bagley of Bedford NY and her grandchildren Ben and McKenna Davies, Ryan and Grant Gilbert.
Ila Mae was a strong, amazing woman, who lived her life with integrity and grace. She was a friend to many and loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.