Remembering Galen Cariveau

Galen Dennis Cariveau, former director of workforce development at UND, 71, of East Grand Forks, Minn., died Thursday, Nov. 10, in Altru Hospital.

Galen was born April 3, 1951, in Grand Forks, N.D., the son of William and Myrtle (Bakken) Cariveau. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1970, and Bemidji State University with degrees in business and education. On Aug. 2, 1975, Galen married Joellen Stocker at Sacred Heart Church in East Grand Forks. He taught in Duluth, Minn., prior to running the Business and Office program at Northwest Technical College in East Grand Forks. He began working at UND in 1997, initiating a new Workforce Development Program, of which he served as director for nearly 20 years. Galen was also the Regional Director for the Northwest Minnesota Small Business Development Center. He initiated the concept for the Northern Valley Career Expo, for high school students. Galen was dedicated to serving his many clients and mentoring students. He was always willing to help others and served as interim Director for the Northlands Rescue Mission. Upon retiring from UND, he continued with his consulting company gCariveau and Associates/Cariveau Workforce Services.

Survivors include his wife, Joellen Cariveau, East Grand Forks; children, Adam (Carrie) Cariveau, East Grand Forks, Joseph (Rachael) Cariveau, Simpsonville, S.C., and Jackie (Aaron) Hall, East Grand Forks; grandchildren Mckenzie, Morgan, Oscar, Ronan, and Emmerson; siblings Gary (Sheryl) Cariveau, Daniel Cariveau, Wanda Sandbeck, all of East Grand Forks, Steven (Sue) Cariveau, Ponsford, Minn.; sisters- in-law, Carol Cariveau, Austin, Minn., and Gail Cariveau, East Grand Forks; and brother-in-law, Arnold Iverson, East Grand Forks.

Galen was preceded in death by his parents, William and Myrtle Cariveau, brothers Duane and Charles Cariveau, sister Patricia Iverson, sisters-in-law Denise Cariveau and Margaret Cariveau and brother-in-law Kenneth Sandbeck.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for any donations to go to Sacred Heart School or the East Grand Forks food shelf.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church – 200 3rd St. NW, East Grand Forks, MN 56721

VISITATION: One hour prior to the funeral at the church on Thursday

BURIAL:  Resurrection Cemetery, East Grand Forks