Dorothy Marie Galm

Dorothy Marie Dykstra Galm was born December 9, 1927, in Canistota, South Dakota, the second of six children to Dowina (Dorothy) Louise Dykstra and Adrian (Ed) Michael Dykstra. Dorothy moved with her immediate family to rural Everly, Iowa, in 1934, graduating from Everly Community School in 1946. She spent much of her life farming near Everly, Royal, and Moneta, Iowa with her husband of 63 years, Edwin John Galm. Dorothy passed away peacefully on Monday, May 10, 2010 at Longhouse Residence, Spencer, Iowa. The loving mother of eight children, Dorothy was greatly interested in the lives of her and Ed's 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Dorothy will be especially remembered for her devotion to family, her kind and soft-hearted nature, her apple pies, cinnamon rolls, and a magnificent green thumb, inherited from her mother, which produced unparalleled vegetable and flower gardens. Dorothy shared her gardening talent with her community, taking care of flowers around Everly and adorning her church's altar with beautiful arrangements. Loading their children in the family station wagon for Sunday picnics and summer vacations at Lake Okoboji, swimming lessons at the Spencer pool and at Clay County's Scharnberg Park, keeping Sundays, Holy Days, and holidays sacred, playing cards, teaching a strong work ethic in the family home, fields and stockyards, devoutly attending school functions, and with their keen interest in a variety of sports, Dorothy and Ed supplied many good memories for their grateful children. Working side-by-side, and on more than one occasion, Dorothy and Ed were named "Iowa Master Corn Growers" in contests held by DeKalb Plant Genetics and sponsored by the Iowa Crop Improvement Association. Dorothy claimed top honors at numerous local and invitational golf tournaments throughout her life. She was also an active member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Royal, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Everly, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. While farming and after retirement, Dorothy served as both a certified nursing assistant and volunteer at St. Luke Lutheran Home and Longhouse Residence in Spencer and enjoyed serving as a volunteer tour guide at the Spencer Parker Museum. Dorothy was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Francis Galm, age 24, her parents, her brother, Lester Dykstra, of Everly, her infant brother, Lawrence Jacob Dykstra, four brothers-in-law: Paul Galm of Royal, Herman Galm of Royal, Delmar Tewes of Royal, John Galm of San Jose, California; and two sisters-in-law, Sybil Weir of San Jose and Pat Dykstra of Hartley, Iowa. Grateful for having shared her life are four daughters-- Kathy Matthews of Storm Lake, Iowa, Jullie Dillingham and husband, Randy, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Cindy Galm and Mike Walsh of Melrose, Florida, and Patrice Galm and Don Stanton of Boone, Iowa; three sons-- Tim Galm and wife, Molly Mulqueen, of Everly, Dana Galm and wife, Kay, of Hartley, and Paul Galm and wife, Brenda, of Spencer; sister-- Betty Bonker and husband, Leonard, of Harlingen, Texas; two brothers-- Vernon Dykstra and wife, Norma, of Mesa, Arizona, and Elmer Dykstra and wife, Gloria, of Spencer; brother-in-law-- Bernard Galm of Spencer; five sisters-in-law-- Barbara Dykstra of Everly, Joyce Thompsen of Royal, Ruth Tewes of Royal, Delores Ransom and husband, Ray, of Spirit Lake, and Sr. Margaret Galm of Dubuque, Iowa; 19 grandchildren-- Robert Galm and wife, Katie, Elizabeth Jensen and husband, Mike, Theresa Matthews, Joshua Matthews, Jeff Matthews and wife, Lisa, Joseph Galm, Alicia Galm, Adam Galm, Melissa Hesner and husband, Kevin, Terri Cuttell and husband, Greg, Heidi Petersen, John Schmidt, Casey Schmidt, Nikki Stoneburner and husband, Shane, Kristi Harson, Kelly O'Connor, Cassie Galm, Abby Galm, and Nathan Galm; 11 great-grandchildren-- Olivia Galm, Jacob Hesner, Benjamin Hesner, Tatum Cuttell, Scott Cuttell, Briar Cuttell, Kaylin Petersen, Dalton Petersen, Olivia Stoneburner, R.J. Wisnewski, Kylie Wisnewski, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Hospice of Northwest Iowa and Longhouse Residence staff for their kind and professional care of Dorothy during her stay.

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