John L. Galegher

John Louis Galegher, a lifelong resident of Thompson, died May 4, 2009 at Woodside Village in Grand Forks, ND. He was born March 19, 1919 to John Davison Galegher and Doretta Adeline Wilde Galegher. Always curious and an avid reader, he graduated from Thompson High School in 1936 at the top of his class and then worked with his father on the family farm until joining the U.S. Army in September, 1941. As a soldier in the First Armored Division, he fought in North Africa and Italy, serving for a time as the gunner in his battalion's Command Tank. On May 6, 1943, the tank was hit by an anti-tank shell, and Mr. Galegher and his colonel, Henry Gardiner, were the only survivors. For wounds he suffered in this incident, Mr. Galegher was awarded a Purple Heart. He was discharged in September, 1945, having spent three years, 11 months, and 19 days in the military a timespan he mentioned on more than one occasion. Like many veterans of his generation, he almost never spoke of the horrors of war, but was proud of his service and deeply attached to the Army buddies who served with him. After returning to Thompson, he married Helen Lois Haugen of Reynolds, North Dakota in August, 1946. 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). Along with his brother, Boyd, Mr. Galegher operated a 4,000-acre farm in the Red River Valley for more than 30 years. At various points, they raised potatoes, sugar beets, flax, oats, wheat, barley, sunflowers, soybeans, pinto beans, and navy beansproviding a secure living for their families and helping to feed the world. In 1986, he retired and turned the farming operation over to his son John and nephew Paul, who are the fourth generation of Galeghers to farm in this area. Mr. and Mrs. Galegher had the good fortune to be able to travel widely, especially after their retirement. On trips throughout the United States, they visited family members and their many friends. They also made several trips to Europe and one to the former Soviet Union. Ever the farmer, Mr. Galegher sought opportunities to tour farms and meet local farmers wherever he went. On a 1993 trip hosted by the U.S. military, fifty years after the original journey, they traveled with other WWII veterans to sites on the route in North Africa and Europe that Mr. Galegher's unit followed during the war. Along the way, they were honored by both military and civilian officials from the United States and from Algeria, Tunisia, and Italy. Throughout his life, Mr. Galegher was an active member of his community. He was president of his local school board and held many offices in the Thompson United Methodist Church and, later, Wesley United Methodist Church in Grand Forks. He was a leader in organizations related to farming including the Red River Valley Potato Growers' Association, the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers' Association, the Thompson Farmers Co-op Elevator, and others. He also worked extensively on developing and maintaining North Dakota's water resources, serving for 27 years as a member and officer of the Grand Forks County Water Resources Board and, at one time, as president of the North Dakota Water Resources Board. Because of his cheerful outlook, his kind heart, and the fair, respectful way he treated others, Mr. Galegher was well-liked and respected in return. In his last years, his memory failed, but his ready smile, his sense of humor, and his delight in othersespecially children and, even more especially, his grandchildrenremained intact. He was one of the world's good guys and will be greatly missed. Mr. Galegher is survived by his wife and six of his children. He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Joanne, who died as an infant; his sister, Ruth Gaulke; brothers, Ralph and Boyd, and a son-in-law, Mervin Adams. Visitation will be held at the Thompson Community Center beginning at 5:00 PM on Friday, May 8, with a wake service to be held at 6:00 PM and an Irish wake in celebration of Mr. Galegher's life to follow. Friends are invited to come, share their memories, and drink a toast in honor of Mr. Galegher. A light supper will be served. The funeral will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Grand Forks at 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 9, followed by a lunch at the church and burial at the Thompson Cemetery at 1:30 PM. Friends who would like to honor Mr. Galegher's memory are invited to contribute to one of the following organizations: the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust, which provides services for disabled veterans and their families; the Thompson Education Endowment Foundation, which supports special programs for the Thompson Public School and scholarships for its graduates; the Grand Forks County Water Resources District, which maintains the Myra Arboretum in Larimore, North Dakota, a park where trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes; or Heifer Project International, a humanitarian organization that works to end world hunger and protect the earth. Information regarding all these organizations is available online or from the family.