Phyllis Martha (Slattery) Buckwalter died November 1, 2025 at age 93 in Farmington MN.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, with a Memorial Service at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at Miller Funeral Home, West Side location, 6200 W. 41st St., Sioux Falls, SD. Burial will follow at 2:00 pm at St. Michael Cemetery, 3001 N. Cliff Ave, Sioux Falls, SD.

Phyllis was born April 12,1932 and raised in Salem SD. She attended Salem St. Mary's school where she was senior class president and homecoming queen.

After high school she moved to Sioux Falls and worked at Odland's record shop and in the IBM key punch card room at Morrell's. She met Darlo (Buck) and they spent many dates at the Arkota Ballroom. They married November 19, 1951.

In Sioux Falls Phyllis was a volunteer at St. Lambert's and O'Gorman on the school board and numerous committees. She was a Girl Scout troop leader and was instrumental in acquiring and opening Oak Lake Girl Scout camp. As president of the Min-Ia-Kota Girl Scout council she was honored to attend a White House reception hosted by Roslyn Carter at the unveiling of uniforms by famed designer Halston. She was always proud of being the first volunteer to make the beds at the brand-new Sioux Falls Ronald McDonald House in 1983.

She moved to Minnesota in 1993 and so enjoyed being closer to kids and many of her grandchildren. In the Twin Cities she volunteered many years and in many roles at Fairview Ridges Hospital, and was especially proud to be on the committee to choose new and much improved art work to decorate public spaces. She found fun in family Scrabble games and in bridge clubs no matter where she lived.

Phyllis loved music and travel. She was generous in inviting kids and grandkids on trips. In 1978 she arranged a weeks-long European family trip without the aid of the internet.

She loved reminiscing about attending big name concerts at the Corn Palace, the Coliseum in Sioux Falls, at Carnegie Hall, at small jazz clubs in New York City and many venues around the Twin Cities. She was thrilled to attend the Metropolitan Opera on several occasions.

Preceding Phyllis in death is her husband of 38 years Darlo Buckwalter, her parents Ruth (Coome) (Slattery) Marquardt, Patrick Phillip Slattery and step-father Herbert Marquardt, her sister Carol (Slattery) Fitzmaurice, her brother Thomas E. Slattery; her son-in-law Barry Halperin; her nephew Larry Fitzmaurice; beloved sisters-in-law Gaylene (Starr) Slattery and Cynthia (Hauck) Slattery.

She is survived by daughters Kay (Chris) Erickson, Lakeville MN; Sandra Halperin, Rock Valley IA; Carol Pederson, Omaha NE; Nancy (Jim) Chouanard, St Paul MN; and Laura (Gaylen) Quam, Apple Valley MN. Grandchildren Jed (Angel) Rayller, Amy Bennett, Angela (Brad) Van Bochove, Michael (Geniene) Neth, Caroline (Brian)Klecker, Madeleine Chouanard and 8 great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are her brothers Terry Slattery (Connie Kass) Sioux Falls, and Bill Marquardt (Laura) Sioux Falls; as well as 7 nieces and nephews and so many beloved cousins.

Celebration of Life will be November 15 at Miller West funeral home 6200 W. 41st St. Sioux Falls, SD.  Visitation at 10 AM, memorial at 11 followed by a light lunch. Inurnment at 2:00 at St. Michael's cemetery 3001 N. Cliff Ave.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Farmington Health Services dba Trinity Campus, your local Ronald McDonald House or Girl Scout council.