On March 6th, Mary Louise Bell Galt peacefully passed from this world to the next to meet her Lord, Jesus Christ. Mary was born in December of 1921 to Emlen and Amelia (Ahern) Bell in Helena, Montana. She graduated from Helena High School in 1939 and then moved to Minneapolis to study at St. Catherine’s College and the St. Paul Figure Skating Club. After a year at school, Mary made the decision to focus on skating. She came back to Montana and taught skating at the Great Falls Figure Skating Club. Shortly after that she was chosen to part of Shipstads and Johnson’s Ice Follies and had a great time touring the US and Canada as one of the troupe.
Mary settled in Seattle and married Clarence Anderson. Her first son, Roy Emlen, was born in 1948. She later divorced and moved back to Helena and worked at the First National Bank. It was in Helena that she met Alan Galt, who became her husband in 1957. Mary and Alan lived in both Great Falls and Lewistown and in that time had two more boys, David and Glen. In the late 70’s they retired and moved to Stanford, Montana.
Mary and Alan moved to Billings for medical care when Alan developed Alzheimer’s disease. During this time, Mary lived with Glen and his wife Lori. After Alan’s death in 2000, Mary moved back to Helena to live with her brother, Ed Bell, and later her son, David and his wife Vicky.
Mary loved her three sons and their families. She was a devout Catholic and held a deep faith in Jesus all her life. She loved watching figure skating and being with family.
Mary is survived by her sister Madelyn Tompkins of Burbank, CA, and her sons Roy (Sandi) Anderson in Montrose, CO; Glen (Lori) Galt in Billings, MT; and Dave (Vicky) Galt of Helena. Her grandchildren are Michelle, Tom, James and Joey Anderson; Aaron and Amy Galt; and Heather, Heidi, and Adam Galt; and as of today has 8 great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00a.m. May 17, 2019, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1502 Shirley Rd, Helena, MT 59602. Mary’s family will be at the Church at 10:30a.m. to greet friends and family. A luncheon will follow the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Interment will take place following the luncheon, at 2:00 p.m. at Resurrection Cemetery in Helena. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1502 Shirley Rd, Helena, MT 59602, St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 102 4th St. N., Stanford, MT 59479 and St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Lewistown, P.O. Box 421, Lewistown, MT 59457. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or share a memory of Mary.
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
11: 00 a.m.
Friday May 17, 2019
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Road
Helena, Montana 59602
Luncheon
Following the mass
Friday May 17, 2019
Fellowship hall of the Chruch
1502 Shirley Road
Helena, Montana 59602
Interment
Following the Luncheon, 2:00 p.m.
Friday May 17, 2019
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
11: 00 a.m.
Friday May 17, 2019
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Road
Helena, Montana 59602
Luncheon
Following the mass
Friday May 17, 2019
Fellowship hall of the Chruch
1502 Shirley Road
Helena, Montana 59602
Interment
Following the Luncheon, 2:00 p.m.
Friday May 17, 2019
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
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Jeanne Fullerton says
Mary was a kind, sweet woman. Always fun visiting her at Eagles Manor. She had many a story to tell! Will miss Mary. I know she is resting in Peace with the Lord! Amen!
Sally Russell says
Dave and family, Sorry to see this about your Mom but it appears she had a beautiful long life. Thoughts and prayers!
Kim and Brendan Beatty says
Dave, Vicky and family: We are saddened to learn of the passing of your mother. She was clearly a kind, warm and caring person. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Rev. Richard G. Francesco - Saint Mary Catholic Community, Helena says
Mary’s warmth and witness to faith will be missed by many people here at Saint Mary, not only the weekday worship community who gathered with her on Fridays for Mass at Eagles Manor, but also all the folks at Sunday Mass. We’re all so grateful Mary was with us for a time.
Rose Schindler says
David & Glenn & families: Sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. I like Mary a lot. I worked with your Dad at the Assessor’s Office in Stanford, and got to know your Mom while there. Sorry this is so late in coming, but was hoping to make it to her Memorial the 17th, but looks like calendar got full and cannot make it. My blessings to all of you. Rose Schindler, Stanford