John Atkinson

John Theodore Atkinson, age 77, passed away on October 27, 2025 in Red Lake, MN.

John was born on May 18, 1948 to Robert Gibbs Jr and Martha Kipling in Red Lake, MN. John lived most of his life in Red Lake and Minneapolis. He worked for Red Lake Builders with his brother, Willie Atkinson, and cousin, Eugene Jorgenson. John enjoyed fishing and hunting and cleaning out fish nets. He also did other work on the Red Lake Reservation. John was a Gospel Tent Man with his brother Willie for over 4 years and traveled with him to various reservations in the United States, Canada and Native Villages in Alaska. John was married to Daileen Hobson for over 10 years before she passed away. He was a service-connected veteran and he recently received that honor for Vietnam; he worked with artillery there.

John is survived by his daughter: Rose Benson; sisters: Anita Rondeau, Roberta Gibbs, Anita Gibbs and Julie Knudson; brothers: Patrick Defoe, Michael Defoe, Leslie Gibbs, Robert Gibbs III, Ramsey Gibbs and Myke Costello; sister-in-law: Anna Atkinson; granddaughter: Madeline Quamme; nice: Angela Atkinson; great-nephews: Xander and Talon; and several other family members.

He is preceded in death by his father: Robert Gibbs Jr; step-mother: Anna Gibbs; wife: Daileen Hobson; son: John “Jabo” Atkinson Jr; brothers: Willie Atkinson, Marvin Atkinson, Charles Atkinson, Gerard Costello, Jerome “Sonny” McKay, Paul Gibbs, Harlan Gibbs, Burton “Bee” Gibbs and Richard “Picker” Defoe; nephews: Giashamena “Gia” Atkinson, Clifford Roberts and Conrad Roberts.

A traditional wake will begin at 7 PM on Friday, October 31, 2025 at the New Red Lake Community Center and will continue until the Christian Funeral Service from 8 AM to 10 AM on Saturday, November 1, 2025 with Steven Rondeau officiating. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Burial will be at Saint Antipas Episcopal Cemetery in Redby, MN.  Arrangements provided by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service, serving Northern Minnesota.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Atkinson, please visit our floral store.