Wilbur Owen Gulbranson

Wilbur Owen Gulbranson, 85, died Oct. 21, 2013 at his home in Columbia Falls following a brief illness.

He was born in Ambrose, N.D. on Jan. 16, 1928, and raised in Colgan, N.D. the son of Hans and Cora (Hocking) Gulbranson. He later moved to Montana where he became a resident. In his later years, he spent his winters in California.

In his early years, Wilbur was a first-class baseball player. After graduating from Crosby in 1945, he attended business school in Minneapolis, the University of Grand Forks, Jamestown College, and then finished telegraph school in Spokane, Wash.

In 1949, he joined the Navy where he was an Electricians Mate Second Class. After serving with the Navy, Wilbur had the opportunity to join the railroad in Essex. Over the years he was an avid railroad collector.

Wilbur had a passion for music and played lots of instruments including guitar, trumpet and accordion, and he won numerous ribbons and awards.

He leaves his sons, Charles and Russell Gulbranson; his daughters, Corrine Gulbranson, Karol Knowles and Linda Street; his brother, Wade Gulbranson; his step-daughters, Patricia Boydson, Linda Taft and Robin Milne; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many close friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Kaare Gulbranson; and his wives, Thelma Gulbranson and Jean Robert; and his siblings, Thelma, Fern, Lorriane, Harry, Raymond, and Clayton (Buck) Gulbranson.

A funeral service was held in Columbia Mortuary, with private burial at the Woodlawn Cemetery.