Eminent Homemaker
County: Pennington
Gallagher and her husband have lived on the same ranch six miles north of Rapid City for the past 38 years. Ann has always been an active promoter of Extension work in Meade County. In fact, she spent a good deal of time helping to get Extension work started back in the 1930鈥檚.
Naturally, Gallagher was among the first members on the County Extension Board when it was organized in 1935. She has served as its secretary ever since, missing only one meeting since the group was organized. In 1954 she compiled a historical summary of Extension work in Meade County. She has been on the State Extension Advisory Board for the past four years.
Ann was born on Sept. 12, 1883 at O鈥橬eil, Nebraska. After finishing high school at O鈥橬eil, she attended Peru State Normal School at Peru, Nebraska, for two years. On Aug. 12, 1913, she became the bride of Hugh Patrick Gallagher at West Point, Nebraska. Together the Gallaghers came west.
The Gallaghers have two daughters. Evelyn (Leslie D. Nadeau) and Margaret.
Gallagher bakes bread once a week and still manages to can or freeze the bulk of the family meat and vegetable supply. She is also a very active member of the Fortnightly Club in Rapid City. Most of her time and effort in this organization is devoted to helping needy folks.
In their younger days the Gallaghers provided a summer home for young boys who had had the misfortune of running afoul with the law. Most of these boys were victims of unfortunate circumstances in their previous home life.
Her considerations for others is also substantiated in the fact that servicemen from the local airbase frequently stop at the ranch. 鈥淭hey just like to get away and do something different,鈥 says Gallagher. 鈥淪ometimes they come to ride horses or maybe just to visit.鈥 They always get a friendly reception. Her philosophy is that 鈥渋t never hurts to do a person a kindness.鈥