Phyllis Foley

Phyllis Katherine Gross Foley was born October 20, 1926 on the stark prairie near Carpenter, SD where she, her parents and two older brothers, William and Donald, resided. A fire ignited by a Christmas holiday candle resulted in the complete loss of the farmhouse with all possessions. So, during the Great Depression, the family restarted their lives in Huron, SD. There, Phyllis matured; she graduated in the Class of 1944.

Phyllis worked throughout high school at the Daily Plainsman, run by renowned publisher Robert Lusk. Her primary task summarized, for Mr. Lusk, news articles and advertisements from other papers. His mentorship honed her lifelong passion for critical learning, world events, compelling composition, and reinforced appreciation for her home state. She attended the University of South Dakota under a 4-year, full ride scholarship for which she had not even applied! She believed her Huron mentors had advocated on her behalf, for which she remained forever grateful. While at USD she served her beloved sorority Kappa Alpha Theta as chapter treasurer and won a position on the University's traveling debate squad. She graduated from USD as a proud Coyote in 1948 with a BA in Journalism.

Upon graduation, Phyllis was offered an opportunity to join the national publication Better Homes and Gardens in Des Moines, IA. Instead, she accepted an ad copywriter position with the prominent TS Martin Department Store in Sioux City IA. Here, she encountered cutting edge fashion and fine merchandise, experiences that sharpened her appreciation for presentation and attention to detail.

Phyllis met physician Robert J Foley, of Blair NE, through a blind date arranged by mutual friends when he was home on leave from the Pensacola Naval Base. They married on December 27, 1950 in Sioux City. Phyllis, in characteristic prairie style, adapted to the delay of her wedding dress delivery when a severe blizzard prevented East Coast trains from reaching Sioux City until after the ceremony, which of course occurred as scheduled.

While in Huron visiting her mother, Phyllis and Bob were invited to Tyndall, where the local physician had suffered an incapacitating injury. This connection was facilitated through a friendship between St Leo’s pastor Rev. Francis Cronin and the Franciscan superior nun at St. John’s School of Nursing in Huron, where Phyllis’ mother, Katherine Tschetter Gross, served as housemother. Phyllis and Bob agreed, through the persistence of Fr. Cronin, to practice in Tyndall temporarily until June 1952 when Bob was to begin an orthopedic surgery residency in Chicago. Heartfelt pleas from the community persuaded the young couple to remain in Tyndall permanently.

Tyndall businessmen had recently invested in St. Michael’s Hospital. Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton provided administrative and medical staff. Bob and Phyllis valued the professional skills and selfless dedication of the nuns in their health ministry. Similar to her own mother, Phyllis enjoyed an ongoing relationship with the local Benedictine sisters, working with them on various hospital service projects. Phyllis was extremely active in the hospital auxiliary organization and fondly recalled the group’s great satisfaction over the purchase of the hospital’s first electric motorized patient bed. Phyllis helped design and decorate the Tyndall Clinic building. Phyllis valued the high standard of excellent care established in St Michael’s Hospital and Tyndall Clinic, a tradition that continues today at Bon Homme/Avera, as does this enduring structure.

Phyllis hosted countless home cooked meals for USD medical students completing their ‘family practice’ preceptorship months in Tyndall; adding another setting to the table was never a problem, even when 21 pork chops were required for a single meal! Her lifelong appreciation of the medical community informed the establishment of a rural-focused medical education scholarship at, now, Sanford Medical School of the University of South Dakota. Phyllis never set a fracture, delivered a baby, nor sutured a laceration, but she always prioritized the community’s medical care, and advocated for all things outside of the actual patient treatment.

Phyllis also focused on providing a warm home environment, attending to the needs of her growing family, and supporting many community activities. Remembering her childhood love of scouting, she delighted in serving both Boy and Girl Scouts in leadership positions. She actively participated in fundraising efforts to transition from the swimming pond to build the Tyndall community pool. Dedicated women and men creatively launched a series of style shows showcasing fashion, food, and entertainment. Through her PEO affiliation, she developed deep friendships with many women whom she cherished.

A humble Dakota prairie foundation shaped her spirit of humility and service, and a fostered willingness to pursue paths of opportunity through commitment and hard work. Her disposition was grounded by the magnificent people who touched her life throughout her nearly ten decades. She imparted those values to her children and brought them to her community.

Phyllis’ home was her castle. Her family sincerely appreciates all those who fondly remember Phyllis, especially the compassionate care providers who allowed her to remain in her home through her final years. Phyllis had an incredible life. She stated that she, given the opportunity, would craft her story just the way it unfolded. Her life testifies to transcendent purpose, and that through community relationships people can achieve remarkable results.

Phyllis joins her husband in eternal blessedness after 15 years apart. She is survived by 7 children and 11 grandchildren who aspire to live up to her legacy of humility, devotion and service.

A public viewing will be held at Goglin Funeral Home in Tyndall between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 14. A memorial service will be held at a later date. The Foley Family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Tyndall Community Foundation, PO Box 454, Tyndall, SD 57066-0454.