Louise R. Galt died peacefully at her home near Martinsdale on November 21st.
A private family graveside service was held. A memorial service for extended family and friends will be May 24 at the Lennep church, followed by a gathering at the 71 Ranch.
Louise was born Sept. 7, 1923 in Lewistown. She was the oldest of six children born to WWI war hero and attorney Bert Replogle and his wife, Edith.
After graduating from Fergus County High School, Louise went on to study law at the University of Montana in Missoula. In college she was president of the Associated Women Students, president of the Forensic Tau Kappa Alpha, a member of the band and orchestra, vice president of the Alpha Phi sorority, secretary of the law school’s association and an editor of the Montana Law Review.
Upon graduation, she was elected Fergus County attorney, defeating two men in the Republican primary and a third in the general election. At 23, Louise was the third woman in U.S. history to be selected as a prosecutor. While serving as County Prosecutor, Louise was elected Montana State Young Republican Chairman. She was then elected as an Alternate-Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1948. In 1949, Louise won a national GOP office when she was elected co-chairman of the National Young Republicans. As part of that office, Louise traveled all around the country, speaking on behalf of the GOP. She received plenty of political coverage and was nationally recognized as a Young Woman of the Year by Mademoiselle Magazine. Look Magazine also did a feature profile on her.
While active in state and national GOP politics, she took care of business in Fergus County. She had 168 convictions during her first two year term. Her biggest victory came in 1949 when the Montana Supreme Court decided in her favor in the State vs. Joyland Club. That victory shut down slot machines across the state and earned her the reputation as an outstanding prosecutor. When she left office in 1951, Wellington Rankin hired her to his firm in Helena. A few years later they were married and her skill as a rider and love of horses complemented ranching as an addition to her resume.
Wellington died in June of 1966, leaving Louise with ranches and a law practice to run.
On July 22, 1967, Louise married Jack Galt, a rancher who brought management skills and seven children to the marriage. Louise added working mother to her titles of attorney, businesswoman and rancher. Louise and Jack spent their 40 years of marriage enjoying family, ranching, politics and traveling.
Her interest in politics never waned and she was active in GOP circles throughout her life. Louise served as chairwoman of the 1980 Montana Reagan for President Campaign and as the Chairman of the Montana delegation to the Republican National Convention where Montana’s vote put Ronald Reagan over the top as the GOP nominee. She rarely missed a meeting of the Last Chance Pachyderm Club and Helena Republican Women and was extremely proud when her grandson, Wylie Galt, was elected to the House, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and great grandfathers.
After Jack died Sept. 8, 2007, Louise continued living on the ranch and at their home in Helena.
She is survived by her sister Ramona (Ola) Bang of Deland, Florida, nieces and nephews: Lisa, Mickael, and Chris Bang; Rick and Ernie Johnson; Mary Anna and Albert Replogle and two special relationships with her niece Candace Johnson Kruger of Columbia Falls and friend Adine Cyr Cox.
She is also survived by seven Galt children: Mary Ann (Don) Hill of Thayne, Wyo., Bill Galt of White Sulphur Springs, Jackie (Dan) Rice of Great Falls, Errol (Sharrie) Galt of Martinsdale, Ben Galt of White Sulphur Springs, Kate Galt of Great Falls and John (Kelly) Galt of Helena, 16 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, the youngest of whom, baby Gunnar Galt, lives nearby and was Louise’s favorite visitor.
The family would like to thank the kind caregivers from Serenity Home Health in White Sulphur Springs. Without Tressa, Susan, Rhonda and Brandi, Louise would not have been able to stay in the home she loved.
Memorials are suggested to the Mountainview Medical Center, PO Box Q, White Sulphur Springs, MT.
Beth McDonnell says
What an amazing woman and an amazing life she led! The rest of us can only hope to accomplish what she did! I’m sorry for your loss of such a great woman.
Linda and Robert O'Brien says
We will always feel honored to have met Louise. What an outstanding woman , an inspiration to us all. We send our deepest condolences with the hope that her life will continue to make , as it has in the past, an everlasting impression and contribution to your own life’s endeavors. We love you,
gailanne Molver says
I am so sorry for your loss. What a lifetime of accomplishments. My sincere sympathies to your family.
Tom and Judy Rolfe says
What a Gracious and Grand Lady Louise was! We will remember always many good times during political conventions and GOP meetings. She and Jack were committed to the principles that made our country great. She will be missed. To all of the Galt Family we extend our sincere sympathy, thank you all for sharing Louise with so many of us, we are better people for having had the priviledge of calling her our friend.
Colin M. Stephens says
Bill and Jack, I am deeply sorry to hear about Louise. I have the utmost respect for all she accomplished in her life and, while I didn’t see her much, will always carry the memory of the conversations she and I had.
Colin
Linda Vaughey says
A life well lived, full of family and purpose, ideals and commitment. To all of the Galt family, my sincere condolences. I am better for having known her and wiser for having learned from her. Arms around you all.
Shirley Herrin says
I had the privilege of being mentored by Louise when I first joined Lewis and Clark Republican Women back in the 1980’s and she hosted our Membership Hat Style Show at her home on Ewing Street. From that time she has always been dear to my heart – she was truly a kind and gracious lady. I was glad I was able to be with her when her sister-in-law, Jeanette Rankin, was honored in the Capitol Rotunda several years ago and also to pass on to Louise the recognition of Jeanette being inducted into the “Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame” at our Pachyderm Club a couple of years ago – memories that I will always treasure. She was in icon in Montana and I will always feel blessed that I was able to call her my friend and know that we will spend eternity together. My deepest sympathy to all of her family in this time of loss – May His Holy Spirit surround all of you with His Love and Comfort.
Liane Johnson says
I am sorry to be late with my condolences to the Galt family, I just returned from out of state. I met Mrs. Galt at an event for Governor Babcock and spent an enjoyable evening in conversation with her at her table. She shared some of her early life and I found her to be most interesting. I know she will be missed by many. My sympathy to her family.
Ann Hennessey says
As a kid I always liked this woman and her house. Every year she bought one of every kind of Girl Scout cookie I was selling. Nobody did that back in those days, though I sometimes do it now for other Girl Scouts. She told me she would freeze them and serve them at her parties. She was a loyal customer who remembered me from year to year, even though she only saw me once a year and I must have changed significantly each time.
C J Glasser says
I am so sorry for your loss. My deepest sympathy to the entire family. It was an honor to have known her.
Ethel Louise Scheet says
It was a special privilege to have Louise as a dear friend. She was a woman of substance and vision, an inspiration to all those who had the honor and pleasure to know her. Her mentoring and guidance truly will be missed by her family and friends. Her passing leaves a large void in her family. Louise still had a spark, right to the end of her life. She and I shared a part of our histories with each other. Her father and my grandfather were dearest friends. May she rest in peace. See you in glory dear friend.
Carlie and Debbie Berg says
We are so sorry for your loss.Our sympathy goes out to the Galt family
Art Stapleton says
As a ’42 classmate, we knew her as “Opal Louise”. I remember how we used to, as a group, ride around with her setting in the back seat telling jokes that went on for days and ending with no punch line. Her sister was my first prom date and her brother, Bert, was excellent at forward on the basketball court. I am glad she touched my life.
Art Stapleton
Bridget Holand says
What a pleasure to have known Louise. May you rest in peace, Louise.
Theresa and Marc Racicot says
Blessings on your family with the passing of Louise. Heaven has gained an extraordinary woman. What a life well lived, an example to all. I felt a special connection, as I was also born in Lewistown.
Alan and Jane Erickson says
Our heartfelt thoughts and blessings to the Galt and related families on the passing of Mrs. Galt.
Linda Tronnes says
I wanted to tell you how surprised and saddened I was to hear of Louise’s passing. I remember so many fun times with her at the Ranch, especially her wonderful experiments with home made ice cream! She was such an amazing person, and will be sorely missed. My sincerest condolences.
Ross Cannon says
My condolences to Louise Galt’s family. I remember her coming to our morning coffee sessions at the Placer Hotel in the early ’60s when I was first in the practice of law in Helena. She was always charming and gracious. She will be missed by those off us who were fortunate enough to know her.