View/Sign Guest Book -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phyllis Gene O'Connor Phyllis G. O'Connor RAPID CITY - Phyllis Gene O'Connor, 98, Rapid City, died Sunday, May 23, 2010, at her residence. She was an optimistic, vivacious and determined woman. She was born Jan. 14, 1912, in Yankton to Fred and Florence Ray. After graduating from high school in 1928, she completed three years at Yankton College in her pursuit of an advanced education. Putting her college education on hold, Phyllis moved with her family to Rapid City in the early 1930s and accepted a position with the South Dakota Employment Service. She married Joseph O'Connor, who also worked for the State of South Dakota. They spent a short time in Aberdeen, during which both of their children, Patrick and Michael, were born. As a family they returned to Rapid City in the fall of 1949, and in May of 1951 Phyllis continued working with the Employment Service until her retirement in December of 1974. Phyllis endured many hardships throughout her life, including burying her entire immediate family, including her parents, brother, both sisters, husband and both sons, but you would never catch a glimpse of pity or self remorse in her. Even in her younger days, she was always leading the way and going against the mainstream. With her can-do attitude, she met countless milestones and enjoyed life to the fullest. For a period of time, her main means of transportation with her brother was their vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle, which they later sold to buy an airplane. She had a focus on athletics throughout her entire life. There is not a person in Rapid City that is not somehow connected to someone who learned how to swim from "Grandma Phil" as she was affectionately called by both family and friends. From lifeguarding at the Canyon Lake Beach, to swimming lessons at the YMCA and local pools, she was almost always in the water. When she wasn't swimming she could be found bicycling, skiing, playing tennis, or volunteering for countless community organizations. The only thing that surpassed Grandma Phil's love of sports was her love for family. She always brought a special energy to family gatherings, whether it was sharing stories or contentedly listening at the dinner table. Grandma Phil always made time for family and always made sure to tell them how much they were loved. Throughout her 98 extraordinary years, Grandma Phil was proof that getting old is a fact of life, but acting old is a state of mind. Survivors include one daughter-in-law, Diane O'Connor; four grandchildren, Scott and Diane O'Connor of Rapid City, Brian and Tracy O'Connor of Scottsdale, Ariz., Eric and Dori O'Connor of Rapid City, and Jenny O'Connor of Olympia, Wash.; great-grandchildren include Katie, Brandie, Jesse, Alyssa, Matthew and Cayden O'Connor and great-great-grandchildren include Dominic and Braxtyn Hall. Visitation will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a 7:30 p.m. Christian wake service Thursday, May 27, at the Blessed Sacrament Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 1 p.m. Friday, May 28, at the Blessed Sacrament Church, with the Rev. William Zandri presiding. Inurnment will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery at a later date. Memorials have been established for the Rapid City Regional Hospital Auxiliary Hospice House and Ski for Light. Services are under the direction of the Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Friends may sign the online guest register at www.osheimschmidt.com