Walter Dailey

Dr. Walter Dailey, 99, Grand Forks, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family on Friday, December 28, 2007. Walter Charles Dailey was born January 6, 1908, the son of James E. Dailey and Sadie Clark Dailey, in New Rockford, North Dakota. His early childhood was on a farm and he attended a country school for the first 2 years. When the family moved into the city of New Rockford, he enrolled in St. James Academy, that was operated by the Presentation Nuns from Fargo, North Dakota. The family then moved to Watford City, North Dakota where he completed grade school. The next move was to Minot, North Dakota, where he graduated from high school in 1925. His first year of college was at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. The next move was back to Minot where he graduated from Minot State Teachers College with a B.A. in 1930. He was employed to teach Mathematics & Science at Parshall, North Dakota. Since he was always interested in Medicine, the Depression of the 1930's made him decide to leave teaching and go to Medical School at UND in Grand Forks, North Dakota; he graduated in 1937 with a Bachelor's Degree in Science. He then transferred to Rush Medical School in Chicago and received the M.D. degree in 1939. This was followed by a year of internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul Minnesota. He then became a member of the Campbell Williamson Clinic in Grand Forks. He held licenses to practice medicine in North Dakota, Minnesota & California. In 1941 he married Margaret Ramskill who was a Pediatric Nurse from Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago. He was on the Medical Staff of St. Michaels and Deaconess Hospitals in Grand Forks for all his professional life. He taught Physical Diagnosis at UND in Grand Forks for a few years. He was President of Kiwanis Club in 1943, President of the 3rd District Medical Association in 1947, and Chief of Staff at Deaconess Hospital 1965-66. He retired from active medical practice in 1985 and spent the retirement years in Grand Forks. He and his wife did extensive traveling in the United States, Europe & Asia. He is survived by a son, Duane Dailey, Rochester, Minnesota; daughters, Jean (Dave) Davison, Olwein, Iowa, Margaret Ann (Paul) Robson, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Marilyn Kathryn (John) O'Gorden, Libertyville, Illinois, Lois (Frank)Liberio, Carlsbad, California; 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his grandmother, parents, his wife, and a sister. Dr. Dailey was blessed to be surrounded by such valued friends and neighbors to include Dr. Tom Polovitz, Kim and Pam Erickson, and Miriam Ugland. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the UND Athletic Department, United Way, or a charity of your choice.