Margaret Anna Dahl Galgerud

Margaret’s History - As written by Margaret (2/26/2018)

Born in Canada, raised in North Dakota and spent much of her life in Utah and Wyoming. Her early education was provided in the various little school houses on the prairies of northwest Divide County in North Dakota during the depression years. This little Dahl family (she was the only surviving child) seemed to be more like “temporary service providers” for farmers and coal-miners, who may be going to visit relatives back in Norway or up in Canada or visiting elsewhere for the winter months and their livestock and or buildings needed attention while they were away. Margaret attended schools in and around Grenora, ND and graduated from Grenora High School in 1944.

Married Ole J. T. Galgerud, August 11, 1946 in Bethany Lutheran Church, Divide County, ND. They had three daughters plus a premature son who passed away shortly after birth; seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Prior to their divorce in 1983, this military family enjoyed Air Force tours in Wyoming and Utah and an overseas assignment in the Philippine Islands which included side trips to Taiwan and Hawaii before returning state-side and settling in Wyoming to make their retirement home.

Margaret’s work experience includes teaching in rural North Dakota one-room schools under North Dakota’s Emergency WWII teaching certification program; bookkeeping, office management and related office assignments in the private and government (Civil Service) sectors.

The Lutheran faith was a very important part of this family’s life. In addition to the various AF Base Chapels, they enjoyed membership, fellowship, and service in Cheyenne’s St. Paul’s and Ascension Lutheran Churches and St. Paul’s, Atonement, and St. Matthew’s Lutheran Churches in the Salt Lake valley. Margaret was active in the Rocky Mt. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Predeceased by her parents, Clarence and Anna (Zackrisson) Dahl, three infant brothers, one infant son (Ole Clarence), a 26-year old grandson, Jerry Curtis, and her exhusband, Ole J. T. Galgerud.

She leaves her three daughters to mourn her: Peggy (Allen) Curtis, Jeannie (Jon) Havemann, and Connie (Michael) Rogers; surviving grandchildren, Jay (Christy) Curtis, John (Bree) Weires, Chrissy Weires, Teresa Neuman, Robert Littlejohn, III, and Debbie Littlejohn. Her loving grandchildren provided her with 15 loving great-grandchildren.

Mom loved family and history including not only names and dates, but also the general history of the related locations. She added this passage from Grit:

Grit magazine dated March 24, 1996, titled “The Prairie Schoolhouse” page 34. The US Government had passed the Homestead Act in 1862. Both the east and west coasts (of our country) had had people immigrate from the Eastern Hemisphere to the “New World”, but the vast prairie lands were mostly bare except for the grasses that our Creator had “planted” and where the Native Americans lived and hunted. However, that all changed when the US passed the Homestead Act of 1862 which allowed “purchase” (ownership) of any 40-60–80 acre parcel of land to those who cleared, improved and lived on that land for a short number of years. This allowed mid America to grow rapidly.

Despite being an only child, her life was filled with countless cousins from both sides of the family. Although most of them have since passed away, she is thankful for those who survive her and have kept in touch and often visited her over the years and even very recently, most often from long distances (Canada!)

She was also very fond and thankful to be included in the lives of her Galgerud family. Her brothers and sisters in-laws and many nieces and nephews held a special place in her heart.

We, her family are truly grateful for her preplanning including many details that have given us the satisfaction of knowing that her wishes are being followed.

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