Dorothy Galbraith

Dorothy Galbraith, age 95, passed away December 14, 2024 in New Salem, North Dakota. 

Dorothy was born November 5, 1929 in Cicero, Indiana to Genoa and Pearl Rigsby. She attended school in Indiana, graduating in 1946. After high school, Dorothy attended college in Berrien Springs, Michigan. 

On June 12, 1949 she married Fred Galbraith in Cicero, Indiana. They made their home in Minnesota for 35 years where their two children, Mike and Sheryl, were born. 

Dorothy began playing piano at an early age and was very active with this throughout her years. This talent provided professional opportunities to teach at Maplewood academy in Minnesota; as well as playing music weekly at the Congregational Church. She would play at various events from large to small. She would even fill in to play at small churches while on vacation. 

Over the years, Dorothy worked beside her husband in various occupations from logging to migratory beekeeping. The beekeeping business led them to move to North Dakota for the summers and Brooksville, Florida for the winters. They continued the seasonal moves with the bees until retiring from beekeeping in 1996. After retirement, Fred and Dorothy settled in Brooksville. While there, Dorothy continued to share her musical talents by continuing to play and organize music for different church functions. 

Even though piano was her profession, it was also one of her hobbies, in addition to gardening. Dorothy would always plant a large garden and had a commercial raspberry patch. She had the opportunity to have an orchard while in Florida to grow tropical fruits and flowers. She would deliver her flowers to individuals in the community and hospitals. Dorothy enjoyed traveling with Fred over the years, and was especially thankful for their road trips to Alaska. 

Dorothy was always spreading her faith with others wherever she was. She would be the first one to help others with compassion and a listening ear. 

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Sheryl (Jeff) Violett; grandson, Jory (Racheal) Violett; great granddaughter, Carolynn Violett, all of New Salem, ND; brother-in-law, Evan (Carol) Galbraith of Calhoun, GA. 

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; parents, Genoa and Pearl Rigsby; brothers, Robert and Harold Rigsby and her son, Mike Galbraith. 

Services will be at Elm Crest Manor Monday, December 23, 2024 at 2 pm. Live streaming will be available on Elm Crest Manor’s Facebook page. Inurnment will be held at family farm at a later date in rural New Salem, ND.  To view the livestream of the service, please click the following link https://www.facebook.com/p/Elm-Crest-Manor-100057602912591/