Phyllis E. Hajek

Phyllis E. Hajek, age 89, of Philip, died Saturday morning, Dec. 17, 2016, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

  Phyllis Elizabeth McDaniel was born on Oct. 11, 1927 to Lawrence and Virgie (Craig) McDaniel at Spencer, S.D., in the home of her grandparents, Robert and Ida Craig. 

She grew up on a farm northwest of Philip and attended Old Trail School. She graduated from Philip High School as valedictorian of her class in May of 1945. After graduation she worked for Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator and as a waitress at the B&M Cafe until the spring of 1947.

Phyllis was united in marriage to Joseph Hajek on Oct. 26, 1946, at Baker, Mont. To this union were born three daughters, Nancy, Phillis and Josephine. They returned to Philip after working on road construction with the Merle Clark Construction Company in 1948. They purchased the Mobil Station and later the Sinclair Station where she was the bookkeeper. They were later involved in the trucking business.

She worked as a clerk for Reckling Furniture for one year and from 1959-1965 worked for Selective Service part-time while working for the county agent and later, Fred Hendrickson Law Firm.

In 1969, she started working full time at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital as a bookkeeper until May 1974, at which time she started working as the business manager for the Haakon School District. She retired in October 1995 after 21 years of service.

She was a member of the United Church, Philip Woman’s Club, United Church Women, American Legion Auxiliary, Bad River Senior Citizens Center, Community Betterment, Member of the Hospital Auxiliary, and served on the Haakon County Library Board.

Survivors include her daughters, Nancy Stovall of Panama City Beach, Fla., Phillis Neal of San Antonio, Texas, Josephine Hajek of Minneapolis, Minn.; five grandchildren, Christopher (Carrie) Stovall, Shilo (Jamie) Nelson, Troy (Wendy) Neal, and Rio and Raquel Hajek; 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; three sisters, Evelyn Kjerstad of Rapid City, Barbara (Larry) Byrne of Sundance, Wyo., and Dorothy Fortune of Quinn; one brother, Robert McDaniel of Philip; a special sister-in-law, Emily Kroetch of Philip; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, on Oct. 22, 1987; her parents; a son-in-law, J.P. Stovall; two sisters, Gladys Wilson and Eileen Baye; and six brothers, Howard, Fred, Frances, Kenneth, George and Harold.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

A Celebration of Life Service was held Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the United Church in Philip, with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating.

A memorial has been established.

Arrangements were with the Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

Her online guestbook is available at www.rushfuneralhome. com