Galen L. Kelsey, age 80, of Brookings, died Monday, August 23, 2004, at the Brookings Hospital. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, at the First Presbyterian Church in Brookings with interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitations will be from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday at Eidsness Funeral Home. Galen Laverne Kelsey, woodworker extraordinaire, was born January 15, 1924, in Fedora, South Dakota, the son of Arthur C. and Edna (Hagen) Kelsey. He graduated from Fedora High School in 1942 and from South Dakota State College with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1953 and a Masters of Science in 1966. He served in the Army of the Occupation from June 1946 until November 1947. He retired in 1983 after working for the State of South Dakota as a county extension agent and most recently at SDSU as an extension economist. Galen married Marlys Trudell on January 17, 1954, in Brookings. He was an active and vocal member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he sang with gusto in the choir. He served his church as an elder, deacon, and trustee. He was a member and past president of Golden K Kiwanis, VFW, NARFE, and a lifetime member of Epsilon Sigma Phi. In addition to the train-striped overalls he commonly wore, Galen is best know for his abilities as a woodworker; building and repairing furniture for his family and the community. Galen was proud to be a staunch Democrat. He was always prepared for a good discussion or debate of his politics and wrote numerous letters to the editor on his opinions and ideas. As a man of strong Christian faith, he firmly believed in the Constitution and the separation of church and state. He loved music, dancing, history, the outdoors, and his family. He is survived by his wife; children: Craig, of Erie, Pennsylvania, Mark (Calla), of Brookings, Gay Lynn (Al) Evenson, of Toronto, Todd, of Davenport, Iowa, Diane (Ken) Lightfield, of Appleton, Wisconsin; and ten grandchildren: Eric Kelsey, Quinn, Austin, and Jae Kelsey, Seth, Caleb, and Laine Evenson, Elisa Kelsey, Spencer and Kelsey Lightfield. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Hagen, Clayton, and Vivian; and a granddaughter, Bethany.