Tracey Gallagher

*VIDEO TRIBUTE CAN BE VIEWED BY CLICKING ON WEB LINK ABOVE* Tracey Lea Gallagher, 51, of Belle Fourche, mercifully passed from this life on January 22, 2014, with loving family by her side. A determined spirit, Tracey taught us all a thing or two about hope and courage. She fought this third recurrence of cancer with all the strength she had, never giving up faith. Tracey was grateful to the end, and extended a thank you to everyone who stopped by or was involved in helping make her comfortable. The family was thankful that their oldest daughter, Chelsey, was able to move home in mid-December to help care for Tracey. Tracey was born November 8, 1962, in Gothenberg, NE to Ron and Sharon (Stull) Aden. She was the oldest of four children and graduated from North Platte high school in 1981. She went on to graduate from Joseph’s Beauty College in North Platte. Tracey’s roots made her a lifelong Nebraska Cornhuskers fan, and if she wasn’t donning Husker red during the football season, it was the color purple for the Belle Fourche Broncs. At the time of her death, Tracey was the owner/operator of the salon, Scissors 5th Avenue in Belle Fourche, and it was her goal to make others feel special. She married her soulmate, Brendan Gallagher, on March 2, 1991, in Rapid City. Their lives were blessed with four beautiful children, Joshua, Chelsey, Brian, and MacKenzie. Tracey had a big heart and generous spirit, and would do whatever she could for her family or friends. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary, or any other special occasion, and her gift was usually the first to arrive. Our families were encouraged and blessed with a two and a half year remission following the initial 2010 diagnosis. This time allowed Tracy and Brendan to spend precious time with their children and create some priceless memories. It also bought some wonderful travels, including an anniversary cruise in 2011, and an amazing trip to Ireland in the summer of 2012. The Ireland trip included all four of their children, all of Brendan’s siblings, and other family and friends. The whole Gallagher clan had their own tour bus, and traveled the entire country. Without a doubt, Tracey’s priority were her husband and children. Tracey was an avid supporter of the Belle Fourche Broncs and the activities her kids were involved in. With three of her kids having graduated from Belle Fourche, and their youngest being a senior, you frequently saw Tracey behind the concession stand, or volunteering her time doing whatever needed to be done. Tracey was also an active member of St. James Lutheran Church.  The Belle school and community recognized that commitment, and honored Tracey and Brendan in September 2013, by naming them the Homecoming Parade Marshals. Also on September 7, 2013, Tracey was blessed to witness the wedding of her oldest son, Josh, and had the opportunity to share the first dance with her son at the reception. Grateful to have shared Tracey’s life are her husband, Brendan, children Josh, his wife Miranda and their daughter Kaydance, Ogallala, NE; Chelsey and special friend Bryan Perkins, Rapid City; Brian, a student at the South Dakota School of Mines; and MacKenzie, a senior at Belle Fourche high school. She is also survived by her father, Ron Aden and his wife Pauline, North Platte, NE; Renea and Tim Rush, Grand Island, NE, and family; Todd and Kim Aden of North Platte, NE, and family; Patrick and Pam Aden, Lincoln, NE, and family. Her in-laws, Shawn and Mary Pat Gallagher, Yorktown, VA, and family; Kurt and Ann Kling, Belle Fourche, and family; Gary and Maureen Dowling, Rapid City, and family; Rod and Megan Anderson, Rapid City, and family; Alison Gallagher, Spearfish; Jocelyn Gallagher, Bismarck, ND; Tim and Ace Crawford, Rapid City, and family; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and great nieces and nephews. Tracey will be welcomed to her eternal home by her mother Sharon Aden, grandparents Orville and Wahnita Stull and Judith and Spence Decker, her mother and father-in-law Jack and Catherine Gallagher, brothers-in-law Brian and Kevin Gallagher, and nephews Brian Gallagher and Jakob Dowling. Tracey left us much too soon, but she enriched our lives in ways we’ve yet to discover. She will live on in our hearts forever and her spirit will be carried on in the lives of her children. The memorial service will be held 1pm Monday, January 27th, 2014 at St. James Lutheran Church in Belle Fourche. Visitation with the family present will be held 4 to 6pm Sunday at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. At 6pm, there will be a public prayer service and storytelling time to celebrate Tracey’s life. Inurnment will take place in the Pine Slope Cemetery, in Belle Fourche. Memorials are preferred. FUNERAL SERVICE 1:00 P.M. – Monday – January 27, 2014 St. James Lutheran Church Belle Fourche, South Dakota OFFICIANT Pastor Jeff Otterman SPECIAL MUSIC “Come to Jesus” St. James Lutheran Church Choir “May the Road Rise to Meet You” Jacque Gallagher, soloist Cong. Hymn – “Amazing Grace” Cong. Hymn – “Borning Cry” Paula Speidel, organist FAMILY TRIBUTE Chelsey Gallagher URNBEARERS                 Rod Anderson                                                                   Gary Dowling   Tim Crawford                                                                  Kurt Kling                                 INURNMENT Pine Slope Cemetery Belle Fourche, South Dakota