Gilbertson, Lenice Marie Fry/White/

Our beloved mama, Lenice Marie Fry/White/Gilbertson the heart of our family, passed away on December 7, 2024. She was born on August 18, 1938, to Wesley and Ruby (Becker) Fry.

She married James C. White in 1954, and they raised five children together: Jim (Sue) White, Green Bay, Christy Kreul, Kathy (Larry) Nondorf, Jeanie (Neal) Welsh and Jennifer White all of Highland. When the White's moved from Fennimore to Highland 1958, Lenice embraced the community as her own. In 1981, she married Burdette Gilbertson. They spent 25 years together before his passing. Lenice loved gardening, particularly flowers and doing puzzles and crosswords. She was also a voracious reader and read to hundreds of the children she worked with while employed 33 years with the Highland School District. 

Lenice was very involved with her community. She was one of the "Dirty Dozen" who began the ambulance service in Highland. She was an EMT from 1972-1989. She also served on the Highland Village Board from 1990-2002. She was a member of the Community Development Block Grant Committee from 1999-2020.

Lenice was a jokester, and loved playing pranks on her children, co-workers and grandchildren. She loved all of the traveling she did with her three sisters. Colorado was their favorite destination. 

She is survived by her five children, 14 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. Her sister, Peggy (Galen) Freymiller, and Stanley (Jane) Fry, many nieces, nephews and her best friend, Joanne Schmitz. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Keith Fry, sisters, Marlene (Jack) Skaife and Betty (Keith) Welsh. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 13th from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Highland Presbyterian Church with a funeral service to follow. The luncheon will be at the Highland Historical Society, (old High School gymnasium), 526 Isabel St. The McGuire-Peterson-Houck Funeral Home, Highland, is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.houckfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Dove Healthcare, 1850 11th St, Fennimore, for the purchase of a lift transport van for resident activity use.

A special thank you to the staff in the Memory Care Unit at Dove Healthcare in Fennimore for treating our mother like family.

McGuire-Peterson-Houck 

Funeral Home

Highland     

608-929-4815

www.houckfuneralhomes.com