Elmer "Gene" Tibbetts

Elmer "Gene" Tibbetts

March 28, 1931 - February 22, 2019

Elmer "Gene" Tibbetts, age 87, of Ogema, MN, died on Friday, February 22, 2019, at St. Mary's Essentia Health in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Elmer Eugene was born March 28, 1931, to Elmer Lawrence and Irene (Thompson) Tibbetts in Cass Lake, MN. His youth was spent in Cass Lake where he attended school. As a young man, Gene entered the United States Army. Following an honorable discharge, he lived in Minneapolis, MN, where he worked for United Van Bus. On September 24, 1954, Elmer was united in marriage to Jane Clark. The couple made their home in Minneapolis for a short time before returning to Ogema. They were blessed with three children: Eugene, Linda and Jeffrey. Over the years, Gene logged and operated a saw mill in Ogema, managed the Corner Bar in Ogema and was self-employed truck driver. In 1971, he purchased a garbage truck and owned and operated Tibbetts Sanitation until he sold to the White Earth Tribe in 1994. Gene then worked for a few years for White Earth in the Fleet Department before going to work for Foltz Trucking as their safety director before retiring. The couple lived in their home until Jane moved to the nursing home in 2017, and later passed away in 2018.

Gene was a member of the St. Benedict's Catholic Church and the Ogema VFW. He also held membership with the Lions Club and was past president. In his spare time, he enjoyed the company of family and friends, playing Cribbage, tending to his garden and yard and he loved deer hunting season. Gene and Jane also spent countless hours traveling and seeing the country.

Gene is survived by two sons, Eugene (Rosella) Tibbetts Sr. and Jeffrey (Jodi) Tibbetts, both of Ogema; a daughter, Linda (Juan) Oveido, of Leslie, MI; eight grandchildren: Eugene (Lori) Tibbetts Jr., Brittany Tibbetts, Michael Tibbetts, Natalie Tibbetts, Kyle Tibbetts, Drayton Tibbetts, Juan Oveido Jr. and Justin Oveido; 13 great-grandchildren; three brothers: Clyde Tibbetts, Roscoe Tibbetts, and Kenneth Tibbetts all of Cass Lake, MN; sister, Norma (Wayne) Knapczyk of Omaha, NE; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jane; one brother, Warren and three sisters: Clarice Murphy, Barbara Maas and Patricia Howard and his sister, Shirley Dunn, who followed him in death on February 25, 2019.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at the Anderson Family Funeral Home in Mahnomen, MN.