Harold David Gallagher, 82, Lieutenant Colonel, USA, Retired, passed away on January 24, 2015, at Spearfish Regional Hospital.

Harold was born November 6, 1932, to David and Lillie (Johnson) Gallagher in Ardmore, SD. He was the youngest of five children. He was raised in Hot Springs, graduating from Hot Springs High School in 1950. He attended the University of Nebraska on a football scholarship. After a knee injury, Harold returned to Hot Springs and joined the Army in November 1952, and was sent to serve in Korea. After the Korean War he was Honorably Discharged.

Harold then enrolled at South Dakota State University in Brookings, where he also competed as an athlete on the baseball and basketball teams. On June 17, 1956, he married Wylda DeBoer. He graduated in 1957, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. He received his MBA from the University of Stanford in 1963. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam in 1966 and 1970. He then attended the Naval War College Graduate School in 1972. The family moved to Lennox, SD, where he served as Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Military Science and ROTC at SDSU and USD from 1972-1976. Harold was then assigned to the Netherlands, in the Port of Rotterdam, where he served his final tour of duty as the Deputy Commander, Military Traffic Management Command, Europe. Upon his return, he retired from the Army in 1977 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Harold thus began a new career as an educator and coach, teaching at Centerville and Hudson, SD. In 1984, he returned to the University of South Dakota to obtain his Doctorate in Education. He moved to Appleton, MN, where he worked as secondary principal from 1986-1990, and then to Cresbard, SD, as superintendent from 1990-1992. He resigned from education, buying the local hotel, bar and restaurant combination, successfully managing that business for a few years before retiring.

Harold later moved to Spearfish, where he spent the last several years of his life. He enjoyed spending time with his family, watching sports, and loved animals. Harold had a passion for life, an inspiration to excel, and a quirky sense of humor that will be a loss to many.

Harold is survived by his wife, Wylda, Spearfish; four children, Kathy (Michael) Peloza, Enon Valley, PA, Kelly (Gordon) Andersen, Beresford, SD, Patrick (Gigi) Gallagher, Spearfish, SD, Michael (Stephanie) Gallagher, Spearfish, SD; seven grandchildren, Nicholas Andersen, Megan (Kyle) Wendland, Fredericksburg, IA, Brittany Gallagher, Jessica (Aaron) Boyd, Spearfish, SD, Mikayla Gallagher, Miranda Gallagher and Joshua Gallagher; two great-grandchildren, Nathan Boyd and Kade Wendland; a brother-in-law, John Powell, Rapid City, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, David and Lillian, and sisters, Evelyn Driscoll, Genevieve Evans, Margaret Powell, and an infant sister Dorothy.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2015, at St Paul Lutheran Church in Spearfish with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to benefit the Western Hills Humane Society.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com