Dr. Harley Dale Gilthvedt of Auburn, Washington passed away on September 7, 2017 at the age of 86, surrounded by family. Harley, an Auburn resident for almost 60 years, was born on March 13, 1931 to Henry John Gilthvedt and Alpha Rosella (Johnson) Gilthvedt in Strathcona, Minnesota. Harley was the only son in the family, and had nine sisters.
Harley married Viola (Vi) Loraine Wiskow on September 2, 1950 at her parents’ farm in Greenbush, Minnesota. He served in the US Army, and after his honorable discharge the couple moved to Auburn, Washington in 1958. Harley worked at the Boeing Company and Vi was a stay at home mom to their
3 children, Wayne, Rondi, and Vicki. After Vi recovered from a life-threatening illness, the couple decided Harley should become a Chiropractor. They packed up the family and moved to Davenport, Iowa where he attended Palmer College of Chiropractic and worked full time at International Harvester while Vi worked full time in a cabinet shop. He graduated salutatorian from Palmer College in 1966 and they moved back to their home in Auburn where they began their practice. Harley retired in 2008, but remained a frequent assistant to his daughter Vicki at the clinic until 2016.
Harley was a member of the Board of Directors of Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport, Palmer West College of Chiropractic, Palmer Florida College of Chiropractic, and the first board director to receive emeritus status; Palmer Fellow; Palmer President’s Club Member; Past President of the International Chiropractors’ Association; Past President of the Chiropractic Society of Washington; Past President of the Auburn Noon Lions and Zone C3 Chairman; founding member and Past President of the Vesterdalen Lodge in Auburn; a member of the Sons of Norway, VFW, Eagles Lodge, Moose Lodge, and a 55 year+ member of Messiah Lutheran Church.
Harley loved his wife and his family, loved his profession and his patients, thoroughly enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and was supremely grateful for the life God had given him. He and Vi enjoyed years of working, playing, and traveling the world together.
Harley was preceded in death by his wife Viola, his parents, and sisters Allayne Glover, Voncille Schaefbauer, Hurdis Lindberg, Marilyn Dodson, and Karyl Nisly. He is survived by sisters Joyce Perkins, Marlys Schultz, Judith Slen, and Bonnae Mastroianni; son Wayne (Trudy) Gilthvedt, daughters Rondi (David) Mitchell and Vicki Wickham-Gilthvedt, 7 grandchildren, and
3 great-grandsons.
A memorial service to celebrate Harley’s life will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn on Saturday, September 23rd at 11:00am. He and Vi will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent. In lieu of gifts or flowers, memorials can be made to Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn, Washington or St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw, Washington.
