Craig Galbreath

OAKES - Dr. Craig Galbreath, 66, formerly of Oakes, went to the Lord on May 23, 2016. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Oakes.

Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. today at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, where a rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m., followed by a prayer service starting at 7:30 p.m.

Craig Lee Galbreath was born April 13, 1950, third child and oldest son of Wyman and Doris (Groth) Galbreath of Moore Township, Ransom County, near Enderlin.

Craig was raised on the family farm where his faith, values, work ethic and love of agriculture were formed. He attended Moore Township School and Enderlin Public School, graduating in 1968. He attended two years of pre-veterinary medicine at North Dakota State University and was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. He graduated in 1974 and began his lifelong career as a practicing veterinarian first in Lisbon and then Oakes.

Craig married his greatest love, Mary (McMahon) on June 22, 1974. The couple made their home in Lisbon, then bought a farm in Moore Township. In 1978, they moved to Oakes and established Oakes Veterinary Service, first operating out of rented space in the former Oakes Livestock Sale Barn, and later building a full service clinic and home at the current location.

Craig formed a partnership with friend and neighbor, Leon Weight, and established Harmony Farms, breeding registered Suffolk sheep until 2015. Craig also helped establish Oakes Feed, a local livestock feed and supply store which is still in operation in Oakes. Craig enjoyed high school football and volunteered his time and talent as an assistant coach to the Oakes Tornadoes football team as the offensive/defensive line coach and team trainer. He was a strong supporter of 4-H and FFA, and was a founding member of the North Dakota State Fair Foundation, serving on the foundation board for several years.

"Dr. Craig" is held in high regard among his colleagues and clients and was known as an expert in the health and treatment of disease in sheep.

Craig loved to hunt and fish, and passed a love of the outdoors and agriculture to his four sons.

Craig was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oakes, Oakes Knights of Columbus and a member of the North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Craig's favorite title was "Grandpa Craig" to his five grandchildren. They are the light of his life and they have a new guardian angel watching over them.

Craig is survived by his wife, Mary; his four sons, Aaron (Tana), Benjamin (Carrie), Collin (Fonda) and Justin; his mother, Doris; his brother, Blair; his sisters, Debra, Alana and Daria; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his infant sister, Jane; and his father, Wyman.

Memories may be shared and viewed by visiting www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com. (Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Oakes)