Obituary of Lillian C. Gibson

Lillian C. (Kisely) Gibson of Yankton, South Dakota passed away December 18, 2023. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. with a prayer service at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Koehn Brothers Funeral Home in Lake Andes, SD with internment in Lake View Cemetery, Lake Andes.

Lillian was born April 28, 1921 to Joseph and Barbara Hermanek Kisely, the second of six children, in Lake Andes South Dakota. She earned her Elementary School Certificate from Notre Dame Jr. College in Mitchell SD and attended Southern State Normal School (Univ. of SD) in Springfield, SD. Lillian married Leonard (Gib) Gibson 9/1/1945. One of the first decisions the young couple made was for Gib to re-enlist in the Navy for an additional 2 years. After a short stay in Minneapolis while Gib attended Navy gunnery school, they made their home in the Los Angeles, California area. Lillian began her career at Safeway, Inc. in 1945 and worked as an executive secretary until her retirement in October of 1986. She also served on various committees and the board of directors of the Safeway L.A. Credit Union, maintained her real estate license, took classes at a local college and assisted Gib with his construction business. They built homes in the Los Angeles area, often living in homes that he built. They moved 17 times in their 65 years of marriage, returning to South Dakota in 2006. As members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors, Lil and Gib traveled to many events around the country. They enjoyed weekends in a winter home in Big Bear, CA and eventually Sun City, AZ. Lillian was generous in caring for her parents as they aged and remained close to her family, making annual trips to South Dakota for large extended family reunions. She enjoyed traveling to South Dakota, Nebraska and around the world to visit them, maintaining ‘favorite aunt’ status with her many nieces and nephews. She took pleasure in her work, family, studying genealogy, traveling, painting, Czech festivals, parades, kolaches and an occasional Pivo or RumChata.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings and their spouses: Blanche (Don) Walker, Laura (Rudy) Kietzmann, Arthur (Lois) Kisely, Leonard (Wilma) Kisely and Arlene (Rudy) Sudrla and niece Gayle Kietzmann. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.