LaRue H. Dahlberg

LaRue H. Dahlberg, age 95, passed away December 23, 2024. She was born in Johnstown, PA, the daughter of Lester Carl Hillegass and Amelia Livingstone Hillegass. After she graduated from Westmont High School, she attended the University of Pittsburgh on an academic scholarship. Active in the Pitt Singers, the Woman’s Chorale, and TriDelta, she later taught school in Pittsburgh and Johnstown. During graduate studies at Penn State, she met her beloved husband, Don Dahlberg. They were married in Johnstown in 1955. As a U.S. Naval Officer, Don was sent to Hawaii, assigned to the USS Renshaw DDE, 499. LaRue taught school at Halawa Kai near Pearl Harbor and then at the famous Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu. Later she taught at Eisenhower Elementary in Palm Beach Gardens for 24 wonderful years. After Hawaii, Don was sent to work at NASA in Cleveland,, Ohio, where their daughter, Susan Lani, was born. In 1960, Don started working with Pratt and Whitney in Palm Beach County. Their dear adopted son, Donnie, came into their lives in 1967. It broke their hearts when he was killed in an automobile accident when he was almost 17. They established a scholarship in his name for a graduating senior in Jupiter High School. This has continued every year since 1983. LaRue attended North Palm Beach Presbyterian Church. She had been an active member of PEO Sisterhood, Chapter CW; Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary international society for key women educators; Tri Delta; the Palm Beach Chapter of the DAR; and the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary. She had also been a long time member of AAUW. She was appointed by Congressman Tom Lewis to interview applicants for the U.S. Military Academies. After retiring from teaching, she and Don traveled throughout the world. They loved Hawaii and went back there often. LaRue loved music and all things cultural, and loved to teach American History. LaRue was predeceased by her parents; her dear son, Donnie; and her wonderful husband, Don. She is survived by her beloved daughter Susan (Bill Brocker); her brother Dr. Ronald Hillegass; several nephews and her niece. She was especially close to Carl and Michael Hillegass, Scott Dahlberg, Barbara Peachey and their families. A Funeral Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach at 3:00pm Friday, January 17th. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Community Foundation, 700 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, for the Don Dahlberg Memorial Scholarship. (https://cfpbmc.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1244)

LaRue H. Dahlberg

June 5, 1929 - December 23, 2024