Carol Ann (Leland) Galarneault, lover of flowers and rocks, hater of rodents, and slapper of bears, died Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at her home in Delano with her husband by her side.

Carol was born on June 26, 1943 in Wahpeton, ND to Clarence and Ethel (Peterson) Leland and was driving grain trucks just six years later. She was proud to have received a drivers’ license at age 11 and could tell the difference between wheat and barley at a glance.

Carol graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead and taught high school math in Bemidji, MN.

She married Thomas Galarneault on June 20, 1970 as a direct result of their students’ meddling and 48.916 years later (as a math major precision was important) they remained very much in love. They had two children, Julie and John, and helped raise most of the neighborhood.

A born supervisor, Carol had the good fortune of marrying a man who loved to work, and together they accomplished one project after another until the last weeks of her life.

 Carol loved flower gardens and her yard. Her children were trained early not to leave bike tracks on the grass or footprints in newly fallen snow. She contributed to the delinquency of said children by encouraging them to “relocate” rocks from the State Park to her gardens where she showed how much she valued them by having her daughter clean them each by hand twice a year. She was awarded the title of Master Gardener 2003.

 Carol enjoyed all types of crafts and would happily play cards all day, every day.

 Carol loved her husband and kids and absolutely adored her five grandchildren–to the extent that she moved to Delano in 2005 to be close to them. She found that she loved living in Delano, grew very close to neighbors, and enjoyed the camaraderie they found in retirement.

 A woman of deep and abiding faith, Carol was deeply committed to attending BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) each week. She loved the people that she met there, counting them amongst her closest friends.

 Carol did not fear death. She fought her cancer with bravery and good spirits, and while she did not enjoy losing her hair, she found humor in the grandkids describing her new look as a “cute little alien”. She remained the support for her family throughout her illness. She said often that death was just a “change of address” and that she could not be sad because “no one had lived a better life”.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Ethel Leland; her brother, Peter; and sisters, Sandra and Cathryn.

 Carol will be deeply missed by her husband, Thomas Galarneault; her daughter, Julie (Steven) Merila; son, John (Stephanie) Galarneault; Julie’s children, Cat (16) and Ani (12); John’s children, Ben (13), Samuel (10), and Maria Camila (5); several cousins, nieces, and nephews; and more friends than even she could count.

 A gathering of family and friends was held from 4-8 on Tuesday, June 11 at the church. Gathering continued on Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the services. Memorial Service at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Delano.