1920
Gerald
2016
Gerald Skibness
December 22, 1920 — October 26, 2016
Gerald Vernon Skibness (Skib), 95 of Battle Lake died Wednesday, October 26, 2016, at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center with family at his side.
Gerald Vernon Skibness was born on December 22, 1920, in the Wright Hospital in Fergus Falls, Minnesota the son of Marvin Lionel and Lulua May (Campbell) Skibness. At the time of his birth the family lived on the family farm south of Battle Lake, they left the farm in 1924 for a few years, living in Bismarck, North Dakota, Fergus Falls and then Watertown, South Dakota, moving back to the farm in 1928. Gerald grew up and attended Country School District #14 south of Battle Lake and graduated from the Battle Lake High School in 1939. He farmed until called into the service, entering the U.S. Navy on New Years Day 1945, he served on the U.S.S. Lexington and was Honorably Discharged on June 13, 1946 after the end of the war.
Gerald married Janice Elizabeth Keefe on June 20, 1947, at the Federated Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He attended North Dakota State University in Fargo for 2 ¼ years and studied Pharmacy. He then went to work in the fall of 1954 selling Pharmacuticals, and moving his family to Wayzata where they lived for twenty-five years, he retired in 1974. He returned to farming to take care of his aging parents and the family farm. He and Jan later moved to the Keefe farm in Maine Township, where he remained until the age of 91, when he moved into an apartment in Battle Lake. Gerald had a lifelong passion for the outdoors and gardening, he loved working the soil.
He is survived by three children, Barbara (Jerry) McGregor of Henning, Mark (Jan) Skibness of Underwood and Robert (Kathi) Skibness of Battle Lake; eight grandchildren, Amy (Bobby) Bannick, Adam (Daneille) Skibness, Dagan (Leah) McGregor, Nathan (Laurie) McGregor, Bryan (Brittany) McGregor, Alexis (Christopher) Lofgren, Alayna (Burgee) Boyum and Austin Skibness; ten great-grandchildren, Brady and Carson Bannick, Cecilia, Isabelle and Zoe Skibness, Ian, Dylan and Lyla McGregor and Cooper and Corbin Lofgren; and by numerous relatives and friends. Gerald was preceded in death by his wife, Janice Elizabeth on August 7, 1995; great-granddaughter, Madison Michelle Skibness on November 5, 2012, infant sister, Jean Margaret Skibness on May 3, 1924; mother, Lulua May on September 9, 1981; father, Marvin Lionel on October 6, 1984; brother, James Benford Skibness on June 13, 1990; and sister-in-law, Marian Idella Skibness on January 25, 1980.
Memorial Service: 10:30 AM Saturday, November 5, 2016, at the Federated Church in Fergus Falls.
Visitation: Friday from 4 to 7 PM with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in
Battle Lake and one hour prior at the church.
Clergy: Rev. Doug Dent
Military Honors: Battle Lake American Legion
Interment: Silent Vale Cemetery, Maine Township, rural Underwood
Skib's Memorial Folder
Gerald Vernon Skibness was born on December 22, 1920, in the Wright Hospital in Fergus Falls, Minnesota the son of Marvin Lionel and Lulua May (Campbell) Skibness. At the time of his birth the family lived on the family farm south of Battle Lake, they left the farm in 1924 for a few years, living in Bismarck, North Dakota, Fergus Falls and then Watertown, South Dakota, moving back to the farm in 1928. Gerald grew up and attended Country School District #14 south of Battle Lake and graduated from the Battle Lake High School in 1939. He farmed until called into the service, entering the U.S. Navy on New Years Day 1945, he served on the U.S.S. Lexington and was Honorably Discharged on June 13, 1946 after the end of the war.
Gerald married Janice Elizabeth Keefe on June 20, 1947, at the Federated Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He attended North Dakota State University in Fargo for 2 ¼ years and studied Pharmacy. He then went to work in the fall of 1954 selling Pharmacuticals, and moving his family to Wayzata where they lived for twenty-five years, he retired in 1974. He returned to farming to take care of his aging parents and the family farm. He and Jan later moved to the Keefe farm in Maine Township, where he remained until the age of 91, when he moved into an apartment in Battle Lake. Gerald had a lifelong passion for the outdoors and gardening, he loved working the soil.
He is survived by three children, Barbara (Jerry) McGregor of Henning, Mark (Jan) Skibness of Underwood and Robert (Kathi) Skibness of Battle Lake; eight grandchildren, Amy (Bobby) Bannick, Adam (Daneille) Skibness, Dagan (Leah) McGregor, Nathan (Laurie) McGregor, Bryan (Brittany) McGregor, Alexis (Christopher) Lofgren, Alayna (Burgee) Boyum and Austin Skibness; ten great-grandchildren, Brady and Carson Bannick, Cecilia, Isabelle and Zoe Skibness, Ian, Dylan and Lyla McGregor and Cooper and Corbin Lofgren; and by numerous relatives and friends. Gerald was preceded in death by his wife, Janice Elizabeth on August 7, 1995; great-granddaughter, Madison Michelle Skibness on November 5, 2012, infant sister, Jean Margaret Skibness on May 3, 1924; mother, Lulua May on September 9, 1981; father, Marvin Lionel on October 6, 1984; brother, James Benford Skibness on June 13, 1990; and sister-in-law, Marian Idella Skibness on January 25, 1980.
Memorial Service: 10:30 AM Saturday, November 5, 2016, at the Federated Church in Fergus Falls.
Visitation: Friday from 4 to 7 PM with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in
Battle Lake and one hour prior at the church.
Clergy: Rev. Doug Dent
Military Honors: Battle Lake American Legion
Interment: Silent Vale Cemetery, Maine Township, rural Underwood
Skib's Memorial Folder
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