Ralph C. Gilbertson, 89, passed away after being surrounded by his family on August 30, 2026, at The Classic in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Ralph was born May 16, 1937, in Shakopee, Minnesota, the son of Ralph C. and Anna Mae (Revier) Gilbertson. He graduated from St. Peter (MN) High School in 1955 and went on to serve in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1959. While earning a bachelor’s degree at Mankato State College, he met his wife, Kathrin (Katie) Beaumont. Ralph and Katie were married in 1963 and moved to Eau Claire in 1966, where he worked for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Lincoln National, and finished his career founding and building Gilbertson Financial. He retired in 1999.

In his personal time, Ralph was an avid fisherman, sang for many years in the Eau Claire Male Chorus, and enjoyed playing golf and cards with friends and family He also enjoyed watching his kids and grandkids play sports and participate in activities.

Ralph is survived by his four children Anne (Juan) Foegen, Mark (Yvonne) Gilbertson, David (Sheryl) Gilbertson, and Sue (Drew) Boxrud; grandchildren Emily (Jordan) Westphal, Henry (Michaela Woodward) Gilbertson, Andrew (Olivia Snyder) Foegen, Lillie Boxrud, and Lola Boxrud, along with Larry Schnack, Jeremiah Hill, Hailey Gibbons, Hannah (Sam) Hunt, and Hope Gibbons; two great-grandchildren Violet and Thomas Foegen; along with brother-in-law and sister-in-law Tim and Elizabeth Frawley, sister-in-law Patricia Swenson, and sister-in-law Karen Beaumont; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Katie; brothers, James Gilbertson, Jerome Gilbertson, and Robert Gilbertson; sister and brother-in-law Joan and Roman Shultz; brother-in-law LeRoy Swenson, brother-in-law Michael Beaumont, and sister-in-law Carol Beaumont.

Visitation will be at 10:30am on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1712 Highland Ave., Eau Claire. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30am with Father Francis Thadathil, MSFS presiding. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery – Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum, Highway 53 and Frontage Road, Eau Claire. A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Ralph’s life will follow from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made in Ralph’s name to Breakthrough T1D (www.breakthrought1d.org) to support a cure for Ralph’s son Mark, daughter Sue, granddaughters Emily and Lillie, and all others who live with diabetes or to the Eau Claire Male Chorus (www.eauclairemalechorus.net).