Vincent M.

Fibelstad

Vincent Fibelstad passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.

Vince was born Nov. 16, 1940, in Lake Mills, Iowa, to Vernon and Margaret Fibelstad and grew up in the tiny town of Joice, Iowa. He lost his father in a tragic drowning accident when he was 4 years old. His mother later married John Berry, who raised Vince, his older brothers and younger sister. The family grew by one with the birth of another brother.

The school in Joice was very small, so Vince participated in pretty much everything from athletics to student council and choir. He was very proud of the fact that their basketball team won state, and their team photo is proudly displayed in the entrance of the Joice Library. Vince would brag that he graduated in the top 10 of his high school class of 10.

Following high school Vince moved to Montana, working in service stations and later with the railroad in Libby and West Glacier. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1962. While in the Navy his travels took him to Fargo, N.D., where he met and fell in love with a waitress in a hotel coffee shop. Vince and Eileen were married in Moorehead, Minn., on Jan. 23, 1965. Vince’s Naval service took them to Yokosuka, Japan, where he served as a hospital corpsman and daughter Kari was born. He was transferred to Groton, Conn., where he served as a corpsman on the nuclear-powered submarine USS Robert E. Lee and daughter Karla was born. When his Naval service was completed, the family moved to Seattle where Vince attended the Medex program at the University of Washington. Upon graduation from UW they moved to Lewiston where Vince became the first Medex (physician assistant) in Idaho. Son Kevin was born shortly thereafter. After 15 years in Lewison, Vince took a position as a PA for the Idaho Army National Guard in Boise and stayed there until he retired from the military and returned to Lewiston.

Vince never knew a stranger. Everyone was his friend and everyone loved him. He always had a joke or a story to share. He possibly had every “dumb Norwegian – aka Sven and Ole or Ole and Lena” joke memorized and may have invented a few himself. He was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and was a charter member of the Sons of Norway Elvadalen Lodge, participating in fundraising and community service activities until his passing.

Vince enjoyed many shared trips with his siblings and their spouses, including one to Norway. He had an impeccable memory. When he was 84, he took a trip back to his small hometown of Joice. He was able to recall who lived in nearly every house “back in the day” and shared stories of the great adventures he had growing up there. Vince’s stories, jokes and hugs will be deeply missed. He had a strong faith, and we are comforted by his belief in the promise of life eternal through Jesus Christ.

Vince was preceded in death by his wife Eileen and son Kevin; parents Vernon Fibelstad, John and Margaret Berry; father-in-law and mother-in-law Oscar and Evelyn Skrien; brothers Paul and Jerry Fibelstad; sisters-in-law Shirley Germain and Liesel Skrien; and nephew Jody Fibelstad. He is survived by daughters Kari (Chris) Hunt and Karla Boyce; grandchildren Thomas and Tamara Whalen, Jeremy, Joshua and Jamison Hunt; sister Vera (Richard) Hynes; brother Ron (Judy) Berry; sisters-in-law Dee and Gayle Fibelstad, and Sharon (Greg) Marquart; brothers-in-law James and Orlyn (Sandy) Skrien; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 20, Trinity Lutheran Church, 920 Eighth Ave., Lewiston. Interment with military honors will take place at 3 p.m., at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens in Lewiston.

Memorial donations in Vince’s honor may be directed to Snake River Community Clinic, 215 10th St., Lewiston, ID 83501.