TIM DALE (RED) GILLETTE

Timothy Dale Gillette was born on June 11, 1972 to Arlene (Field) and Dale Gillette in rural Woodstock, Minnesota. The family moved to Lake Wilson the following year and Tim was baptized at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on July, 9, 1973. Tim attended grade school in Lake Wilson, high school in Slayton, and Pipestone Technical School for auto mechanics. He lived in Washington State for a time with friends and close to family. He moved back to Minnesota and started working for Murray County Land Improvement from mid 1996 through the end of 2003. On a friends trip to Alaska during the summer of 2003, Tim fell in love with the area. He moved shortly after his return to Minnesota and never looked back. Tim and college friend, Shawn Hansen, lived together for a time before he found a place of his own. They remained close friends and ended up purchasing homes only a few houses away from each other. Tim loved Sitka and all things Alaska. He worked a variety of jobs including on a fishing boat and various construction jobs but spent most of his time in Dutch Harbor operating equipment in a rock quarry. In the last five years he started working on the North Slope near the Arctic Circle running heavy equipment.

In January 2024, during a trip back to Minnesota, he reconnected with Jennifer Brady, a friend he had known since his school days. They spoke every day and planned a future together.

Tim passed away unexpectedly at his home in Sitka after a short illness on January 12, 2025.

Those that were lucky enough to know Tim, enjoyed his fun loving spirit and smile that would light up a room. He lived life to the fullest and everyone always knew where they stood with him. Sugarcoating was not his thing. Tim loved his Chrysler 300 which he named The Dark One, his chopper, and more recently his Harley heritage which he had fun accessorizing so it was just right. He loved animals especially Steve the Dog who was a faithful friend for sixteen years. He also made friends with a few fox while working in Dutch Harbor and enjoyed the wildlife he observed on the slope like polar bears, musk ox, and Caribou.

Survivors include his mother, Arlene Gillette, of Lake Wilson and special friend, Jennifer Brady, of Dell Rapids, SD. He leaves behind aunts and uncles Elbert and Linda Field, George and Carol Scotting, Loren Scotting, Jim and Carolyn Gillette, several cousins and friends in both Minnesota and Alaska.

He is preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; father, Dale Gillette; aunts and uncles Darlene Gillette, Bernita Burchkardt, Wesley and Jane Scotting, and Raphael Scotting.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Dar’s Pizza in Pipestone.