In memory of Linnie Gilpin

born June 19, 1947 - died March 30, 2025

Photos: Linnie's senior picture, Linnie and Delores 2017, Linnie ca 2025

From Linnie's obituary:
Long time Delta Junction resident Linnie Lee “Gil” Gilpin went to his eternal reward to join his mother and father, sister, and nephew on March 30, 2025.
Gil was born in Garnet, Kansas on June 19, 1947, and like all from the great plains of this country had a love of rodeo especially calf roping and bull riding. He was instrumental in bringing the first rodeo to the Deltana Fair and desperately wanted to join in the action being a cowboy at heart, but his wife reminded him that he was not as young as he once was.
Gil came to the Delta Junction area courtesy of the U.S. Army and once he was discharged, he made Delta Junction his home.
In 1990 he was working as a bartender at the Trophy Lodge and met the love of his life, Delores who also worked at the Trophy Lodge. Although they were like ships passing in the night as they worked opposite shifts, there was a spark of magic and in 1991 the two were married.
Everyone in Delta knew him as “Gil” and he was active in the community including the Moose Lodge where he was an avid helper.
In his free time Gil loved to fish and really loved to shoot guns. Delores, known by most as Slic, was born in Alaska and no stranger to firearms. She was comfortable with long guns, that is until Gil shared the excitement of shooting handguns. They both loved those times together.
Although Gil and Slic never had any children together, Gil has a son, Robert, in the U. S. Coast Guard, and three daughters, Julie, Colleen, and Janet.
There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, April 13 at the Moose Lodge in Delta Junction at 2 p.m. All are invited to come to remember Gil and share stories.

Notes: Since Linnie lived so far away he only attended one class reunion. I was glad to see him and meet his wife, Delores. She was quite nice and they seemed very happy together.
Terry Cain called the Moose Lodge the day after Linnie's celebration of life and the man there (who was good friends with Gil), said that not only did Linnie help set up the rodeo, but he was also one of the beginning members of the Moose Lodge and helped it get going, and also did many things in the community for good. Terry asked the man if there was a place that we could send a plant to Delores from the GHS class of 65. He said to send it to the Moose Lodge as Dolores will be playing bingo there on Thursday evening. So that is what she did.

Info as of 2015 Linnie lives in Delta Junction, AK, about 100 miles from the nearest big city. He enjoys the weather, work and adventure of living in Alaska.
Linnie is married to Delores (aka Slic). They have four children - Colleen, Julie, Janet, and Robert - and nine grandchildren. Linnie is a rancher and raised yaks for several years. Yak meat is becoming more and more popular in Alaska, being served in many restaurants and sold at farmers markets.

High School Activities
Freshman: Hi-Y, Football Sophomore: Hi-Y

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