Jenny Gay Gilbertson, 50, beloved of family and friends, passed away June 24, 2009, at Dorsett Regional Senior Care in Spearfish, South Dakota. She was born Jan 24, 1959, in Easton, NY, and lived most of her life in Wyoming. She graduated from Laramie High School, and received her associate degree from Northwest Community College in Powell, WY. She graduated summa cum laude from Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD, in 1977 with a BS in History and American Indian Studies. She grew up on a ranch by the Laramie River, where she enjoyed working with and training her own horses. She also had a love of art, drawing, playing her guitar, and wild country.
She deeply loved and was very proud of her four children and granddaughter.
Among other jobs, Jenny worked for the U.S. Forest Service as an artist in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and as a firefighter and archaeologist, in Sundance, WY. She joined Powder River Energy, an electrical distribution cooperative, in 2001 as a Draftsperson/Engineering Clerk with duties that included assisting in the design of electrical distribution power lines, preparing power line staking sheets, right-of-way easements and cost estimates. Jenny was in training to aid in the prevention of environmental conflict when power lines were being designed. She was approved by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to perform environmental review on behalf of Powder River Energy. Jenny performed her duties with professionalism and was well liked by her co-workers.
Following a crippling accident in 2002, Jenny was known for her courage and her vibrant sense of humor. She especially enjoyed, and was benefited by, riding horseback with the Suncatcher Therapeutic Riding Academy in Rapid City.
Jenny is survived by her mother Gaydell Collier of Sundance, WY, her husband, James Gilbertson of Kathryn, ND, her children, Ray Collier of Sundance, Corina Beslanowitch of Spearfish, Earl F. Collier of Sundance, and Kathleen Gilbertson of Kathryn, ND, and one granddaughter, Tyler Nicole Knutson. She is also survived by two siblings, Sam (Pamela) Collier of Albany, OR, and Seda (Kristin) Collier of Eugene, OR, nieces and nephews, Kaitlyn Collier, Jacob Collier, Trinidad Collier and Samuel Collier. She is also survived by two aunts, Nancy Maier and Marilyn Maier, and four cousins, Karen, Jon, David, and Kathleen.
She was preceded in death by her father, Roy Collier, and her brother, Frank Collier.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00p.m. on Sunday afternoon, June 28, 2009 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Memorial donations may be made to Suncatcher TRA, P.O. Box 3975, Rapid City, SD 57709.