Phyllis M Mitchell

Phyllis M. Mitchell, age 96, passed away at Luther Manor in Sioux Falls on Monday, October1, 2012, with her family at her side. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 5, 2012 at 10:30 AM at Good Hope Lutheran Church, rural Willow Lake with visitation starting at 9:30 AM. Rev. Keith Garness will be officiating. Dorothy Fuller will be the organist. Burial will follow at Good Hope Lutheran Cemetery. Phyllis was born in August 1916, the daughter of Inga (Bergh) and Peter Ludwig Solbak in Florence, SD. In 1919, when Phyllis was 2 years old, her father Peter died from the Spanish flu. She was the stepdaughter of Einer Lovesetter Jordeth. On July 2, 1942, she married James Peter Mitchell. Phyllis and Jim farmed near Willow Lake, SD until 1979 when Jim retired. They moved to Lake Kampaska. Jim passed away suddenly in July 1984. Phyllis moved to Sioux Falls in 1996 where she lived next door to her daughter Janice. In November 2010, she became a resident of Luther Manor in Sioux Falls. A woman of many accomplishments, Phyllis received her Bachelor's degree at Huron College and her Master's degree in Elementary Administration from South Dakota State University in 1975. Phyllis had a passion for learning and teaching. She taught at rural schools, various town schools and a parochial school. She had a love of math and taught her students an understanding and excitement for the coming age of computers. She spoke and wrote Norwegian, French, Spanish, and impeccable English. Phyllis continued working as an elementary school administrator until her retirement in 1996, ending a career of 50 years dedicated to education. Phyllis was talented and had a creative mind. She taught herself to play the piano and was a substitute pianist at Good Hope Lutheran Church. She worked in different mediums of arts and crafts. Many of her arts were given as special gifts to parents of her students, and she contributed many of her works to be used for school fundraising. She loved to entertain family and friends. Her excellent cooking and baking skills have been enjoyed by many. She had a great sense of humor, a quick wit, and an ability to remember stories of family history. Phyllis is best known for her devotion to God, her family, and each student she taught. She always had time to help a struggling student. She believed that knowledge is power and passed that concept on to her students. Phyllis was a long time member of Good Hope Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, Bible school and was active in WELCA. She was also a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. She was a generous supporter of Christian missionaries and Bible translators. She was a member of the South Dakota Retired School Administrators. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sisters Mildred Burchfield, Penny Reinhart, and Marguerite McClung Jameson, her brothers Elmore Jordeth and Olaf (Bud) Jordeth, and grandson Terry Brenon. She is survived by Jane Brenon and William Brenon of Tonawanda, NY, Judy and General Harry F. Armstrong III of Boston, MA, Janice Mitchell of Sioux Falls, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. The family of Phyllis Mitchell wishes to express their gratitude for the kindness evidenced in thought and deed, with deepest appreciation for the staff at Luther Manor.