Marlys Callahan

Marlys Geraghty Callahan, age 80, Fargo, died Tuesday, July 1, 2003, in MeritCare Hospital, Fargo. Marlys Elaine Geraghty was born in Fargo, ND, on March 4, 1923, to Albert and Helen (Nubben) Geraghty. At the age of four her family moved to Moorhead, MN. It was here she received her 12 years of public school education in the same school building on Eighth Street South. Upon graduation from Moorhead High School in 1940 she enrolled at Moorhead State Teachers College. With the beginning of World War II she went to work at the Fairmont Creamery. She married Sgt. Clifford W. Erickson in Moorhead in 1943. He was killed in a bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany in 1944. Marlys graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College in 1947 and moved to Grand Rapids, MN, where she taught in the high school. She was married to Richard Callahan in Fargo in 1948, and celebrated 52 years together. In 1961 she began teaching in the Fargo Catholic School system, where she spent 25 years - 18 years at Shanley where she taught physical education, history, and religion. Her coaching was in girls athletics; track, girls basketball, tennis and golf. In 1983, Marlys became equipment manager for Women?s Athletics at North Dakota State University, where she was employed for five years. In 1978, she was selected as North Dakota High School Golf Coach of the Year. The YMCA awarded her the Outstanding Woman of the Year in education. In 1997, the Shanley Athletic Club inducted Marlys into their Hall of Fame. She leaves three sons, Michael (Rosanna), Sebring, FL, Joseph (Kelly), Fargo, and Casey (Kari), Fargo; two daughters, Kathy (Tim) Bourdon, Fargo, and Mary (Marc) Langseth, Fargo; an honored daughter, Janet (Justin) Murray, Rochester, MN; 18 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one sister, Gloria LeDosquet, Williston, ND; and one brother, Patrick Geraghty (Sandy), Owatonna, MN. She was preceded in death by her brother, Darrell Geraghty. Funeral Mass will be at 1 PM Thursday in Church of the Nativity, Fargo. A prayer service will be held Wednesday at 7 PM in Church of the Nativity, with visitation from 5-7 PM in the church. Visitation will also be held Thursday in the church one hour prior to services. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Fargo. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Presentation Sisters. Arrangements by Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Online guestbook at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com.