Phyllis J. Karolevitz

Phyllis J. Karolevitz, age 99 of Yankton, SD passed away Monday, November 24, 2025 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 PM, Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Thi Pham officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD. Visitations will be 4 to 6 PM, Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory, Yankton, SD. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. On line condolences may be sent at: www.okfhc.com.

Phyllis Jane (Gunderson) Karolevitz died November 24, 2025 at Sister James Care Center in Yankton, SD. She was born on a farm in Clay County, SD, on July 7, 1926 to Martha (Sorensen) and Loyal Gunderson.

Phyllis grew up with a sister and two brothers on the farm, spending their time as children making up fun games, and occasionally getting into mischief. She attended schools in Meckling and Mission Hill, SD, and graduated with honors from Gayville, SD, High School.

After graduation she moved to Sioux Falls, SD and was employed at Sioux Falls Gas & Electric Company as a secretary and key punch operator. She later moved to Yankton and worked as a secretary at the Masonic Temple. While in Yankton, she and her roommates hosted a gathering of friends which included a fellow named Bob Karolevitz…her future husband. “Call it love at first sight,” she said. Not long after their 1949 meeting, Bob left for the University of Oregon in Eugene to pursue his master’s degree in journalism. Two months later, Phyllis moved to Eugene as well and worked as a secretary until 1950.

At that time, the Korean War had broken out and Bob, who was a World War II veteran, had just graduated with his master’s degree. Still in the Army Reserves, he was sent to Carlisle Barracks, PA to attend Army public information school. Always adventurous, and missing Bob, Phyllis drove alone to Pennsylvania to visit her fiancee. Later they returned to Yankton and were married on January 4, 1951.

On their honeymoon, Bob received orders to report for active duty at the Seattle Port of Embarkation and was later sent to Korea. Phyllis stayed in Seattle working for an advertising agency as a secretary. When Bob returned from Korea, the couple remained in the Seattle area for 17 years, during which time their daughter, Jan, was born in 1955, with Jill following in 1957.

In 1967 the couple decided to return to their “roots” and moved back to South Dakota and bought Cedar Crest Farm near Mission Hill.

In addition to helping Bob research his 40-plus books, Phyllis was an active volunteer at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital and served as president of the institution’s auxiliary. She was a 50-year member of PEO Chapter BT and served as its president, as well as other offices in the chapter. In later years she was a volunteer for Yankton College’s alumni association and museum. She also was heavily involved in helping Jan and her husband Pat Garrity at Garritys’ Prairie Gardens.

Phyllis had a lifelong love of animals. While on the farm she raised lambs and had horses, which she loved riding, especially with daughter Jill. Her menagerie over the years also included miniature horses, a burro, and many beloved dogs and cats. Her last pet, a kitty named Sophie, came from the Heartland Humane Society in Yankton. Sophie was her favorite roommate who even kept her company at Majestic Bluffs Assisted Living and Avera Sister James Care Center.

All through their married life, Phyllis and Bob enjoyed entertaining family and friends, frequently hosting gatherings that featured fun, food and laughter. The couple also traveled extensively, visiting 49 states, Canada, Mexico and Europe, as well as enjoying Caribbean cruises.

Phyllis is survived by daughters Jan and her husband Patrick Garrity, Anacortes, WA, and Jill Karolevitz and her husband Pete Peterson, Yankton, as well as cherished relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, and her beloved grandson Samuel Robert Garrity.

Memorials may be directed to the Robert and Phyllis Karolevitz Scholarship Fund at Sacred Heart School, Yankton, the Robert and Phyllis Karolevitz Journalism Scholarship at South Dakota State University, the South Dakota State Historical Society, Pierre, or Heartland Humane Society, Yankton.