Nancy Ann Galligo was born on November 3, 1974 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Rebecca Thiem and Pedro Galligo. After a thirty-year battle with serious health challenges, including a heart/liver transplant on April 8, 2004, she died peacefully on November 24, 2024 at Rochester Methodist Hospital. For more than a year prior to her death, she was under the loving care of Seasons Hospice.
A lover of music, concerts, animals, and the beauty of sunflowers, Nancy lived a life full of boundless strength, spunk, tenacity, and achievement. She lovingly called herself a “badass” and her fight refrain to the end was “Let’s Go.” Everyone who knew her loved her and she reciprocated that love with a non-judgmental loyalty that very few people possess. She was beautiful both inside and out. She will be missed dearly, but she no longer lives in pain or struggle.
Nancy grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota, but also made many friends in Colorado, South Dakota and Minnesota as she worked and played hard. She was a proud member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Nancy is survived by her mother and father, Rebecca Thiem and Glenn Smith, her brother Lucas Benson, and her boyfriend Josh Erath, and other relations and friends too numerous to list. She will be sorely missed by her special pet family of Sassy, Jax, Cleo, and Karma. She was preceded in death by her grandmother and grandfather, Betty and Alfred Thiem, who were like second parents to her.
Nancy requested that all memorial donations be sent directly to Seasons Hospice, the beautiful hospice home where she chose to spend her last days.
Seasons Hospice
1696 Greenview Drive SW
Rochester, MN 55902
507- 285-1930
Memories and condolences of Nancy may be shared at rochestercremationservicesmn.com
In my memory she was a spirited, independent child which likely gave her the strength needed to foster in the life you so beautifully captured in her obituary. My heartfelt condolences to you, Becky and Luke and Glen and all others who so loved her.
Wishing much love and special memories to Nancy’s family and friends. Clearly, she had great strength, great warmth, and badass attitude (the good kind – the kind that gets both the ailing and those who love them through the hardest times). Warmly, Ellen and Dave
Becky, Glenn, Luke and family,
Nancy was a beautiful soul. I am blessed to have known her.
Dear Becky, I didn’t know your beautiful Nancy, but my heart hurts for your heart and this loss. I’m sending peace and light to you and all those who loved her. Take good care.
Becky, my deepest sympathies at the loss of your daughter by all accounts such a lovely person. My thoughts are with you and your family.
I loved Nancy and always will.
She will always be an inspiration to me.
Nancy was and will always be an inspiration to me, I will miss her. My heart goes out to you, Glenn and Rebecca and Luke.
Becky, what a beautiful picture of your daughter. I am so sorry for your loss.