Leonard "Gib" Gibson
Dates
February 9, 1942 - May 15, 2026Obituary
Leonard “Gib” Gibson, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026, at his home. There will be no services per Gib’s wishes.
Leonard William Gibson was born in Mitchell, SD, on February 9, 1942, to Melvin Gibson and Luella Larson Gibson. He attended Holy Family School and Notre Dame High School in Mitchell.
Gib was a power lineman for East River Electric in SD and Donovan Electric in MN until a car accident left him paralyzed.
Gib had a passion for anything with a motor that could go fast. He spent many hours porting big block heads, building motors, and drag racing (legally and otherwise).
He enjoyed figuring out what was wrong with just about anything and fixing it. He made sure he taught his youngest son and wife how to do minor repairs on lawn mowers, snowblowers, appliances, plumbing, and light fixtures, just to name a few. Even after his car accident, being self-sufficient was a must.
Gib really missed climbing poles for his job. One day, he brought home an old pair of lineman hooks and decided to teach his wife and young child how to climb. Needless to say, Gib was the only one who was educated that day, and the utility poles in our yard were not climbed.
He enjoyed watching most sports, which helped him pass the time. Football was his favorite; he was a die-hard Vikings fan. He also rarely missed a Morningside College game while his oldest son was their quarterback.
Gib will be forever loved and missed by his family, his partner of 40 years, Cheryl Ann (Schoenfelder) Gibson; children; Julie Pressley of Dallas, TX, Jim Gibson of Kyle, TX, and Travis Gibson of Mitchell, SD; five grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren; nephew, Jamie Ingalls of Yankton, SD, and many special nieces and nephews in the state of Washington.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Betty Ann and Glen Hansen; in-laws, Shirley and Earl Schoenfelder; and brother-in-law, Don Schoenfelder.
