Phyllis Wilcox, age 77, of Huron, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at the Huron Regional Medical Center, surrounded by her family. Her funeral service was held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 6th, at the American Lutheran Church. Burial was in the Broadland Cemetery.
Phyllis was born March 19, 1942, to Rudolph and Ruth (Haugen) Oestreich at Huron. She grew up and lived most of her life in the Broadland and Huron area. During her younger years, she spent time on the farm taking care of chores, helping around the house and caring for her younger siblings.
She married Bernell Buckmaster, Sr. on July 4, 1959. They then moved to Lake Preston and began a family with children, Kevin, Cynthia and Bernell, Jr. While there, Phyllis nurtured and shaped her children into the adults they are today.
The family moved back to Huron where they have lived for years. Phyllis then divorced and had a fourth child, Jason. At this time, she worked in the food service industry as a waitress/bartender at the Plains, Bales and other establishments.
She loved time spent with family and friends, especially during holidays. She also enjoyed watching fireworks, playing bingo and shopping. Her most admirable attribute was her willingness and selflessness to help anyone by any means she had available.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph and Ruth Oestreich; three brothers, Howard Oestreich, Vernon Oestreich and Harold Oestreich; two sisters-in-law, Gail Oestreich and Janet Oestreich; one son-in-law, Jim Privett; and two nieces, Dawn Schroeder and Crystal Schroeder.
Grateful for having shared in her life are her four children, Kevin Buckmaster, Cynthia Privett, Bernell Buckmaster, Jr., and Jason (Courtney O'Dell) Buckmaster, all of Huron, two sisters, Elaine (Harvey) Schrader of Frankfort and Carol Swearingen of Montana; two brothers, Kenny Oestreich of Highmore and Rudolph Oestreich, Jr. of Sioux Falls; one sister-in-law, Sharon Oestreich of Huron; six grandchildren, Stacey Simrad, Jessica (Darin) Howard, Heather Buckmaster, Christopher (Anna Mae) Buckmaster, Joshua (Rosa) Root and Casey (Ashley) Root; thirteen great-grandchildren, Skiley Root, Adien Smith, Adriel Pallon, Derrick Howard, Caithlynn Buckmaster, Drake Howard, Adrianna Root, Kaiden Howard, Sierra Howard, Symfani Root, Emma Root, Kinley Root and Noah Root; and many nieces and nephews.