Victor Gibbins

Victor Gibbins, 85, Bismarck, died February 26, 2016, at CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11:30 am Thursday, March 3, 2016, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 106 Osage Ave, Bismarck, with Rev. Pam Power officiating. Burial will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Wednesday, March 2, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Victor had a life-long love of friendship and veterans of every conflict, living anywhere in the world and having served any military branch of service. This is his legacy. Victor loved attention. To achieve this, he sported brightly colored dress shirts, bold ties, polyester slacks and cowboy boots. Over the top, a fine wool vest and a service medal very recently awarded him by the U.S. government. His signature look was the same at home or out, weekdays or weekends. He was comfortable in his skin. He gave attention. He noticed you, remembered your name, and quickly sought a connection. Once he had you, he kept you. He couldn’t bear parting with people, or things. Loyalty trumped all. In big and small things, as often as necessary, he provided forgiveness. Victor retired from AT&T after more than 35 years of service. After retirement, he set off working on his true passions. He served as treasurer of the Bis-Man Reel & Rec club for more than 20 years. He also committed his time and energy to the VFW #1326 serving as post commander. His entire family would like to thank the new friends he made during his months at Edgewood Vista and his weeks at Sanford off Collins. You lit the road on his toughest days. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gladys and their children, Darcy (Linda), Danell (Grant), Darren (Amy) and Dawn; his grandchildren, Adam (Caitlin), Matthew, Paul (Spencer), Tessa, Andrew (Lindsay). He also leaves one great-grandson, Gunther Gibbins; five step grandchildren; and his brothers, Everett and Donald Gibbins He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Ella; his brothers, Paul, Joey and Phillip; and his sisters, Vivian and Marlys. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be preferred and directed to veterans who honored our country with their service.