Helen “Pat” Galusha

Helen "Pat" Galusha passed away on Jan. 16, 2016, at Billings Clinic.

Pat was born on Aug. 8, 1930, to Charles B. and Katherine (Montgomery) Rathbun in Fargo, N.D. She lived with her family in North Carolina for a brief time and started school there before moving back to Fargo. After her mother passed away, Pat moved to Minneapolis to live with her sister, Grace, and family. She later returned to Laurel and graduated from Laurel High School, where she met the love of her life, John "Jack" Galusha.

After graduation, she returned to Minneapolis, where she worked as a secretary. Jack was in the Army, stationed in Washington, D.C., and proposed long distance. They were married in the Laurel United Methodist Church on Dec. 21, 1950. While living in Washington, D.C., she worked as a secretary to the head of a research department at Walter Reed Hospital, where their son, David, was born in 1952.

When Jack finished his military service, they returned to Laurel. Daughter Katherine was born. After the children were in school, she worked part-time at Laurel High School, the Graff School, the Laurel Outlook, an accounting firm, eventually retiring from Cenex Exploration and Production in Billings.

Pat and Jack enjoyed RV traveling and made many memorable trips around the United States, as well as family camping in Red Lodge. Family and friends were of the utmost importance to Pat, and she would do anything for them. She was fortunate to spend Christmas 2015 in Colorado Springs, Colo., with her daughter's family.

Pat was a member of the Laurel United Methodist Church for more than 60 years and served in various positions throughout those years. She was a member and past president of Chapter B, PEO, and a member of Zidonian Chapter of Eastern Star in Laurel.

Survivors include David John Galusha (Linda) of Glendive, Katherine Mary Reak (Jack) of Colorado Springs; two granddaughters, Jennifer Sokol (Mark) of Cairo, Neb., and Joann Wiles of Glendive; three great-grandchildren, Samantha and Jack Sokol and MacKenzie Wiles; and sister-in-law Barbara Karst (Clancy) of Laurel. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at Laurel United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Yellowstone National Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Laurel United Methodist Church.