Phyllis James, 92, of Mitchell, died Friday, May 27, 2016, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell.
Funeral services were Wednesday, June 1, at First United Methodist Church in Mitchell with burial in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation was Tuesday, May 31 from 6-8 p.m. at the Bittner Funeral Chapel.
Phyllis Jean James was born March 5, 1924, in Mitchell to Wayne and Anna (Fessler) Ferguson. She graduated from Fulton High School and received her teaching certificate from Notre Dame Academy in Mitchell. She taught school at Ravenna #3 in Sanborn County.
On Oct. 23, 1943, she married Irvin James. They farmed in Miner County until moving to Mitchell in 1984. Phyllis was a member of the Farwell Methodist Church and then First United Methodist Church in Mitchell, where she worked for 17 years at Parents Day Out and Vacation Bible School. She was also a 50-year member of the Beaver Extension Club in Miner County and the Miner County Farmers Union.
Phyllis is survived by her three children, Sharon (Don) Bowman of Fedora, Nancy (Mike) Tingle of Mt. Vernon and Leland (Linda) James of Mitchell; one sister, Audrey (Joe) Tobin of Racine, Wis.; 12 grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; five step great-grandchildren; 10 great great-grandchildren; two step great great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Doris James of Pipestone, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Irvin; and a son, Roger.