Phyllis Turner, 96, formerly of Springfield SD passed away Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Shalimar Gardens, Fremont NE.

The funeral service will be 1 PM, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at the United Church of Christ, Springfield, SD with burial in the Springfield Cemetery. Visitation will be the hour prior to services at the church. Memorials will be directed to Springfield Assisted Living and the Senior Meals program.

Phyllis Lou Turner was born January 31, 1929 in rural Springfield, SD, the daughter of Roy and Ida (Spurrell) Beecher. She had an older sister, Myrtle.

She attended Armstrong rural school for eight years and enjoyed family gatherings at Scotland and Springfield and 4-H activities.

Phyllis joined the Springfield Congregational Church in 1942. She graduated from Springfield High School in the Class of 1946.

After attending Southern State Teachers College, Phyllis received her 2 yr diploma and taught the 1948-1949 school year at the Centerville Public School. She then returned to Springfield and married Richard Turner at the Congregational (UCC) church on July 5, 1949. They shared their lives together for 57 years.

They moved to the farm north of Springfield with their son, Stanley, in March, 1952. Their daughter, Arlene, was born to them after their return to Springfield.

In 1971, she began working at Southern State College in the business office and moved to the Humanities department in 1982, renamed, USD/S, until the school was closed in 1984. She then worked at various jobs and retired in 1994.

When Dick went to work at the Springfield Correctional Facility, they rented the farmland to Bryan Nagel.

Phyllis was a member of Women's Fellowship and belonged to the Rebekah Lodge and the Marry Madams Extension Club.

Richard was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1999 and moved to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home at Tyndall in March, 2005. After his death, in December 2006, Phyllis continued to live on the farm.

Trips with her children and grandchildren, graduations and weddings were special times for her. She enjoyed pinochle games with cousins especially Connie, Don and Dar and friends. She researched the history of the original piece of Spurrell land so that it could be named a Century Farm by the Farm Bureau.

In November 2016 she moved to the Springfield Assisted Living facility and stayed until October, 2022 when she moved to Fremont, NE putting her closer to her children.

She enjoyed baking, yard work, gardening, a good cup of coffee, music (especially playing the piano by ear), cardinals, and the joy of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a good game of pinochle.

Phyllis was preceded in death by husband, Richard, parents, Roy and Ida Beecher, sister, Myrtle McCann, niece, Catherine Hinzman and brother-in-law and sister-in law Dean and Annette Turner.

Surviving family include: son, Stanley (Vonda) Bennington, NE, daughter Arlene (Bill) Alsmeyer Scribner, NE; grandchildren: Shelly Turner, Shannon (Brandi) Turner, Christine Gulsvig, Tiffany (Seth) Cash; great grandchildren: Drake (Josee) Turner, Peyton Turner, Livia, Emma and Archer Cash, Remi Gulsvig; great-great grandchildren Harper and Wyatt Turner. She is also survived by a number of nephews and nieces and cousins.