Mearl Kibler

Mearl Kibler, age 86, of Montevideo, Minnesota, passed away Monday, May 5, 2025 at CCM Health in Montevideo, Minnesota. A Funeral Service was held Monday, May 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo. Interment followed in Sunset Memorial Cemetery.

Mearl Kibler was born July 1, 1938, in Montevideo, Minnesota, the son of Albert and Anna (Haugerud) Kibler. He was baptized as an infant at Big Bend Lutheran Church and later confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo, Minnesota. Mearl and his family moved to Bemidji when he was small but returned in 1949 where he attended school in Montevideo and graduated in 1957. He served his country in the National Guard.

While in high school, Mearl had opportunity with ‘on the job training’ at National Bushing and was hired full time after graduating. Mearl married Sharon Spencer on April 15, 1961, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo. The couple were blessed with three children, Mark, Kristin and Michael. He later began working at REC in the mid-1970s working as the warehouse manager until his retirement in 1997.

Mearl was a member of American Legion Post #59. He was on the Montevideo Rescue Squad for many years and served on several church boards through the years. After retirement Mearl helped build many houses with Habitat for Humanity.

Mearl loved cars, he would collect model cars and had a Model T for many years with the intent of restoring it. He enjoyed wood working and fishing. Mearl and Sharon enjoyed going south in the winter to Arizona and Florida and in the summer enjoyed their camper on Lobster Lake where many family gatherings were held being a favorite of Mearl’s. His welcoming and kind heartedness will be missed by many.

Mearl is survived by his wife, Sharon Kibler of Montevideo; children, Mark (Vikki) Kibler of Madison Lake, Kristin (Brian) Tebben of Madison, Michael (Chesaray) Kibler of Montevideo; grandchildren, Trevor Kibler, Joshua Kibler, James (Emily) Kibler, Tyler Tebben, Ian (Alyssa) Tebben, Cameron Kibler, Quinton Kibler; great grandchildren, Olivia, Winston, Murphy, Paisley; sister, Rose Triechler, Hutchinson; brother-in-law, Orrin Aune of Thief River Falls; sister-in-law, Donna (Duane) Ritter of Rockford; as well as other relatives and friends.

Mearl is preceded in death by parents; step father, Gaylord Geary; siblings, Dwain Kibler, Adrian (Earlin) Schwartz; brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard (Judy) Spencer, Marlene (Henry) Schraufnagel, Jacquelyn Aune; Carol (Robert) Swanson.