Valerie M. Swift

Valerie M. Swift, age 61, of Philip, South Dakota, died on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, after a long battle with cancer.
Valerie was born on June 9, 1959 to Helen and Andrew Connelly of Winner, South Dakota. She grew up in the country near Winner and graduated from Winner High School in 1977. She moved to Rapid City, South Dakota in 1979 with her daughter. She loved spending the weekends at the lakes in the Black Hills. Val worked at McKee Ford and Job Service.
Val was united in marriage to Thomas Swift on March 1, 1991, and they lived in Rapid City for numerous years before moving to the family ranch near Philip in 1998.
Val worked at Philip Motor for many years, making long lasting friendships with many colleagues she worked with. Recently she worked in Wall as a desk clerk and loved meeting all the new people that crossed her path. Val put her family in front of all else and loved with her whole heart.
Survivors include her husband Thomas D. “Tom” Swift; daughter Heidi (Tristan) Horton; stepson Josh (Cassie) Swift; grandchildren Kira Horton, Blakely Swift, and Greylen Swift; an honorary grandchild Mallory Vetter; sisters, Karen Connelly and Kathy (Paul) Hubbard; brothers, Ronnie (Darnell) Connelly, Mike Connelly, and Neil (Lynn) Connelly; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew and Helen Connelly, sister Sherry Mann, and stepson Jessie Swift.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, at the United Church in Philip. Due to covid and the safety of our friends and family the service will have limited capacity and masks will be required. The service will also be live streamed at Philip Public TV Facebook page.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.