Janet Anne Deegan, 84, passed into eternal rest at Belle Fourche Regional Senior Care on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, ending a 16-month battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig 's Disease). Born on July 11, 1926, in Corry, Pa, Janet later moved with her parents, Ernest and Goldie Paulie to Cameron, W.Va. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 45 years, Raphael M. Deegan. Janet is survived by her two children, Raphael (Sherry)P. Deegan of Leesburg, Va. and Lisa Deegan Langer of Spearfish, SD and four grandchildren: Michele and Shannon Deegan and Landon and Collin Langer.
Following her graduation from Cameron High School in 1944, Janet became the first female lifeguard at the Cameron swimming pool. She was especially proud of this because women were not often lifeguards and the pay was higher than other jobs open to females at the time.
Janet continued her education at West Liberty State College, where she participated in the Campus Reverie Girls, the Hilltop Players, orchestra and band and was a member of Iota Psi Alpha sorority. She met her husband "Ray" at college and married him the day after their graduation in 1948. Following graduation, they began their teaching careers in Murphy, N.C. In 1951, she moved back to West Virginia to teach at Union High School in Benwood, where she remained for 13 years. While at Union, she was sponsor of the Class of 1957 and had attended all of their reunions until 2010, when she became too weak to travel. In 1964, Janet transferred to her Alma Mater, Cameron High School, where she continued to teach English until her retirement in 1983. With over 35 years of classroom experience, Janet was passionate about teaching and challenged her students to be the best they could be.
After retirement, she and her husband enjoyed summers in the hills of West Virginia at Big Bear Lake and winters on the sunny beach of St. Augustine, Florida.
Throughout her life, Janet was involved with music and theater and often performed at church and social events. As an adult, she was an avid bridge player and collector of antiques.
In West Virginia, Janet belonged to a number of service organizations including: The American Legion Auxiliary, Women's Club (with a stint as W.Va. state chair), National Education Association, Eastern Star, Women of the Moose, and Ladies of the Elks. She was also an active member of the Cameron United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir nearly every Sunday.
After over four decades in Cameron, W.Va., Janet moved to Spearfish, SD in December of 2004. There, she enjoyed an active retirement. She was a graduate of the 2005 Leadership Spearfish program, a member of the Spearfish Senior Center, and an actress at the Matthews Opera House. With the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), she volunteered for the Spearfish Arts Center, High Plains Western Heritage Center, and the Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce.
Janet is remembered as a dedicated educator, leader, role model, and loving mother. Her keen wit and sense of humor left an impression on everyone she met and she will be missed by her family, friends, and a legion of former students.
In accordance with Janet's wishes, no service is planned and she will be interred with her husband in the Veteran's portion of Riverside Cemetery in Moundsville, W.Va. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of the Northern Hills, 1440 North Main St. Spearfish, SD 57783 or MDA/ALS research.