Helen L. Galegher

Helen Lois Galegher of Thompson died January 18, 2010 at Woodside Village in Grand Forks, ND. From her early education in a one-room rural school to her days as a secretary at The Grand Forks Herald to her life as a farmwife and the mother of a large family to a comfortable retirement enriched by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her life embodied the central qualities of her time and placehard work and high standards, commitment to family and community, and the affection and hospitality she both gave and received in many long friendships. The youngest of eleven children, Mrs. Galegher was born January 4, 1924 to Peter Haugen and Sophie Severinson Haugen of Reynolds. After graduating from the country school, she attended Reynolds High School, where she played basketball, foreshadowing a family obsession. She graduated in 1941, after which she worked briefly in a general store in Hatton, ND; she subsequently attended and graduated from Aaker's Business College in Grand Forks. At The Herald, she served as an assistant to the circulation manager, with perhaps her most famous contribution being an occasion when she and a co-worker took over as "newsboys" during a snowstorm. Dressed in skirts for a day at the office, they walked the delivery routes and were pictured in the paper with large newspaper bags slung over their shouldersan incident that revealed Mrs. Galegher's penchant for taking on challenges and carrying them out with flair and a sense of fun. She always spoke with pride of the years during World War II when she worked and supported herself, repaying every cent of the money she had borrowed from an older sister for her business school tuition. During those years, she formed numerous happy friendships with other young women, some lasting to the end of her life. In 1946, she met and married John L. Galegher of Thompson. They were married for nearly 63 years, until his death in May, 2009. They had seven children: Judith Adams, Jolene Galegher, Barbara Hatfield, Nancy Norman, Joanne Galegher, Sheila Galegher (Lou Counter) and John Galegher Jr. (Pamelyn). They also had eight grandchildren (Sarah Adams, Linda Pietruszewski, Wendy O'Leary, Jason Hatfield, Andrew Galegher, Jenna Galegher, Shannon Galegher, and Halley Norman) and six great grandchildren (Adam Pietruszewski, Mia Pietruszewski, Michael O'Leary, Matthew O'Leary, Marina O'Leary, and Taeler Hatfield). They lived and farmed near Thompson throughout their life together, retiring to a house in town in 1988. In 2004, they moved to Grand Forks. Mrs. Galegher was deeply committed to the education of her children. Equally important, she worked to ensure that all the children who attended the Thompson Public School would get a good education. Like her husband, Mrs. Galegher served on the school board for three terms, part of the time as president. During that period, the school added a new gymnasium, a library, and several new classrooms, and she enthusiastically took on the complexities of dealing with the funding, the architect, the contractors, and all whose opinions needed to be considered in this large project, helping to complete it on time and within budget. When she left the board, she helped to establish the Thompson Educational Endowment Fund, a non-profit organization that raises money to support scholarships and special projects within the school. As in her service to the local school, Mrs. Galegher was a "doer" in every aspect of her life. In the operation of the farm, she managed the payroll, billing, and taxes for many years. She taught her five daughters to cook and sew and supported all of her children in 4-H and their various artistic, musical, athletic, and academic activities. In all cases, they knew that there was no bigger fan and no tougher judge than their mother. Over the years, she also participated in a wide range of community and church activities, holding office in parent-teacher organizations, band boosters, United Methodist Women, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She designed both the house built on their farm in 1970 and their retirement home in Thompson. Both her own friends and those of her children looked forward to visits, knowing they would be received warmly and fed well. She enjoyed painting and, after retirement, took several art classes. The family and, in later years, she and Mr. Galegher traveled extensively in the United States and elsewhere in the world. An inveterate collector, she brought home souvenirs that reminded herduring her later, quieter yearsof all these good times. Most of all, she enjoyed her friends and family. There was no day that could not be made better by a long chat over coffee and cookies. Mrs. Galegher is survived by six of her children. She was preceded in death by her husband; her daughter, Joanne, who died as an infant; her brothers and sisters; and a son-in-law, Mervin Adams. Visitation will be held at the Amundson Funeral Home in Grand Forks beginning at 4:00 PM on Friday, January 22, with a brief prayer service beginning at 6 PM. Friends are invited to come, share their memories, and enjoy baked goods made with Mrs. Galegher's favorite recipes. The funeral will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Grand Forks at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 23, followed by a lunch at the church. Friends who would like to honor Mrs. Galegher's memory are invited to contribute to the Thompson Education Endowment Foundation or the United Methodist Committee on Relief, a global humanitarian aid organization. Information regarding these organizations is available online or from the family.