Phyllis Jensen

A life-long resident of Hurley SD, Phyllis Eileen Bishop Jensen died peacefully on September 25, 2017 at the Canton Good Samaritan Nursing Home with family at her side. Funeral services will be at 10:30am Friday, September 29, 2017 at the United Methodist Church, Hurley with burial in the Hurley Cemetery. Visitation will be with family present from 5-7pm Thursday evening at the Hofmeister Jones Funeral Chapel, Hurley. Phyllis was born February 21, 1927, to Lois Lucille Powers Bishop and Frederick Henry Bishop. She attended Hurley High School graduating in 1945. She attended Freeman Junior College and Sioux Falls College and earned a teaching certificate for elementary education. She taught school in Hurley, Davis and Turkey Ridge areas, and the upper grades in the Davis Elementary School. Over the years, she was a census taker in Turner County and also served as Librarian for the City of Hurley. Phyllis married her high school sweetheart Richard H. Jensen on May 28, 1947. They lived on the Urbandale Farm west of Hurley and raised five children. Phyllis was an active and life-long member of the Hurley Methodist church, the WSCS, Sunday School teacher, choir director, soloist and pianist over the years. She wrote and arranged music, plays and pageants for both schools and her church family. She was also an active member of the local Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron. She belonged to the Hurley Historical Society, the Gideon Auxiliary, and supported many community projects and events. She was an avid gardener, seamstress and 4-H parent. Her interests included reading historical novels, English history, literature, Biblical archeology, and bird watching. She will be warmly remembered for her gentle spirit, easy laugh, kindness to others, her musical and literary talents, her dedication to church and family, and her delightful wit and sense of humor. She is survived by her five children: Richard F (Susan) Jensen, Hurley; Susan (Steven) Stoneback of Pierre SD; Lt Col (Ret) Alan (Phyllis) Jensen, of Colorado Springs, CO; Philip Jensen (Sharon) of Sioux Falls; and Gwenneth Jensen of Hurley. She has 8 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, a sister Marian Gustafson of Colton; brothers Ranald Bishop of McAllen TX and Kenton Bishop of Huntsville AL; brothers-in-law Robert Jensen of Ft Wayne IN and Russell Jensen of Phoenix AZ; and a myriad of extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard H. Jensen and her parents. Memorials maybe directed to the Gideons.