Elizabeth Wilkes

Elizabeth (Libby) Geiger Wilkes died on October 10, 2026 surrounded by family. Libby was born May 27th, 1936, in Columbia, South Carolina to George Geiger and Katherine Kirkland. Libby graduated from Agnes Scott College and received her M. Ed from St. Thomas University. She married Clyde H. Wilkes in 1957. They were married for 66 years and raised their four children in Wayzata, Minnesota. Libby supported her family with enthusiasm and joy. She was a teacher, tennis player, reader, runner, photographer, pilot, sailor, gardener, golfer, pound cake maker extraordinaire, bridge player, and friend to many. Libby loved all of the communities she lived in; Columbia, South Carolina, Wayzata and Grand Marais, Minnesota, and Fernandina Beach, Florida. She was a generous and positive force of a human being.

Libby and Clyde started Northwind Sailing in Grand Marias, MN in 1980 and supported their son, George, and his wife, Barb LaVigne, in starting-up the Angry Trout Café in that same location on the Grand Marais Harbor. Libby loved gardening with her Cook County Master Gardeners and established several gardens in the Lutsen and Tofte areas. She and Clyde were avid golfers and enjoyed many games with friends.

Libby is survived by her four children and spouses; George Wilkes and Barb LaVigne, Kap Wilkes and Craig Kvale, Margaret (Wilkes) and Brad Kieley, and Marianne (Wilkes) and Jay Marshall, and her nephew Rob and Meghan Galloway. She was ‘Mimi’ to 9 grandchildren - Marybeth, Martha, Madeline, Peter, Sarah, Katherine, Will, Elizabeth, Evelyn, grand-nephew Gavin, and 5 great-grandchildren Theodore, Scarlett, Mabel, Everett and Lenora.

The family recognizes with gratitude the care Libby received during her time at Haven Homes in Maple Plain, Minnesota. Thank you to the Haven Homes and Park Nicollet Hospice staff for their loving care of our mother, auntie, grandmother and great-grandmother.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, please do something kind for a friend, family or neighbor. Libby’s family would be grateful to receive your memories, stories, or reflections of her; send a remembrance to Margaret (Wilkes) Kieley, friendsoflibbywilkes@gmail.com