Phyllis Opal Harms, age 98, of Brookings, and formerly of Huron, passed away in the early hours of January 25, 2022, at Avantara - Huron.

Her graveside memorial service will be held at a later date.

A descendant of pioneers, Phyllis was born in Huron August 27, 1923, to Charlie and Opal (Spain) Kouf. She attended school in Huron and after graduating from Huron High, she worked as a switchboard operator at the Marvin Hewitt Hotel. During this time, Phyllis met and fell in love with Ellwood Harms. They were married June 15, 1945, and they remained devoted to one another until Ellwood's death in 2003. During their life together, they co-owned Harms Nursery & Greenhouse for more than 40 years. Many of the trees in Huron were planted by the two of them — and they laid the sod that covered the field at Tiger Stadium, which all three of her grandsons played football on. This is but one of the ways Phyllis put down a strong foundation so that others could run on it. She was a fantastic baker, a crack shot with a rifle and a great fisherwoman.

In the end, though, we are what we leave behind. Phyllis, a member of The Greatest Generation who lived up to the moniker, was a dynamic force for good for nearly a century. She leaves behind a better world.

As a former South Dakota State PTA president, she is survived by an educational system that provides wonderful opportunities to our children. As former President of what was the newly organized Nyoda Girl Scout Council, she is survived by generations of active girls who grew up to become strong women. As an 85-year member of the First United Methodist Church and a former superintendent of the Sunday school, she is survived by a church that has put down strong roots in the Huron community. As a certified Master Gardener (a designation she achieved well into her eighties…one of her proudest accomplishments), she is survived by a greener, more beautiful South Dakota.

She is survived by her daughter, Kristine Harms of Brookings, who has carried Phyllis's love of education into her own career, in which she has served the children of South Dakota for decades. She is survived by her three grandsons, Rocco (Marcy) of Brookings, Doug (Jess) of Brookings and Joel (Abby) of Aberdeen, who, because of her wisdom and influence, will always carry with them a love of strong women, wild things, growing plants and good wine. She is survived by several lemon and orange trees, which her grandsons have inherited, the fruits of which are a lot like this obituary: bittersweet. She is survived by eight great-grandchildren (soon to be nine), whom she loved fiercely and who loved her so as their Grammy. She is also survived by her loving sister, Lurane Schroeder, of Huron.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ellwood and her parents, Charlie and Opal.