Mildred Connolly

Mildred Connolly, 96, of Fargo, passed away Sunday, February 12 at St. Francis Health Care Campus in Breckenridge, MN.

Mildred Kathryn Higgins, the eldest of four children, was born July 18, 1915 to Thomas and Kathryn (Geiser) Higgins in Medina, ND. She graduated from Medina High School in the midst of the depression and began work as the assistant postmistress in the Medina Post Office. Seven years later, she resigned to study at Bismarck Capital Commercial College and was subsequently employed as a secretary in the Works Progress Administration.  After the United States entered World War II, she went to work for the Office of Price  Administration (OPA). In 1943 she moved with the OPA to Fargo, where she was in charge of rationing control, and traveled around the state to train others in ration control procedures. She met James Connolly in 1945, when he joined the OPA as the Information Officer on his return from the war. Following the phase-out of the OPA after the war, she transferred to the Veterans Administration. 

Mildred and Jim were married June 18, 1947 in St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo. That autumn the couple moved to Dickinson, where Jim was manager of the Chamber of Commerce. They were involved in many projects promoting North Dakota tourism and history, including the 1949 dedication of Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park. In 1950 they returned to Fargo, where they raised their four children. While the children were in school, Mildred returned to work at the Veterans Administration and remained there until she retired in 1987. She was an active volunteer in the community, especially with Merit Care and Hospice of the Red River Valley. She and Jim enjoyed theater, lectures, and travel. Following Jim's death in 1981, Mildred continued to pursue her interests with a wide circle of friends. She is survived by her children Brigid (Paul) Langseth , Barney, ND;  Peggy, Wheaton, IL; Tom (Patty) Eugene, OR; Tim (Diane), Coppell, TX; and seven grandchildren.