Phyllis Eileen Balvin was born September 16, 1923, in Gettysburg, SD, to Helen (Nauman) and Fred R. Hinckley, Sr., who served in the army during WWI.
She attended school in Gettysburg graduating as salutatorian of the Class of 1941. After graduation, she worked for one year in the County Auditor's office; she then moved to Portland, Oregon, where she was employed in the regional insurance office of H.K. Coffey and Associates for one year before she enlisted in the Navy WAVES during WWII.
After basic training at Hunter College in New York City, she was enrolled in Yeoman training in Stillwater, Oklahoma. For the remainder of her Navy career, she worked with Ships Service activities on Treasure Island, California; she received her Honorable Discharge in May, 1946.
That fall she was enrolled at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD. While a student, she met Donald Balvin, of Springfield, who served in the Navy during WWII. They married in Gettysburg on November 26, 1948. They became the first married veterans on Northern's campus. She and Don graduated in August, 1950 with B.S. degrees.
Don purchased the Aberdeen School of Commerce in 1951, and Phyllis joined him in teaching there in 1952. This career lasted for 26 years, with the School closing in 1978. She was then employed in the Richardson, Groseclose and Associates law offices for six months before being hired as Human Resources Assistant for St. Luke's to Midland, working there until her retirement in September, 1996.
Phyllis was a 50-plus-year member of Plymouth Congregational Church, where she served terms as Trustee, Deaconess Clerk, Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School and as a member of various committees.
She was a charter member of the South Dakota Chapter A of the T.T.T. holding various offices including President. She was a 50-year member of PEO, and served as President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. Phyllis was a member of MacPherson Chapter of D.A.R. until it disbanded; she then became a member at large; Yellow Brick Road Chapter of Questers; the Epsilon Chapter of S.A.I.; and a Charter member of WIMSA. She enjoyed arts and music and had helped with Community Concert membership drives for many years. She enjoyed traveling, both within and outside the United States.
Phyllis is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan Christiansen and her husband Gordon, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Donald (6/20/25- 5/29/95), her son Douglas (1/20/50-2/12/84), her brother Fred "Rollie", Jr., her sisters Lavelle Romito and Hope Guhin, and her parents.
Adapted from Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home obituary
She attended school in Gettysburg graduating as salutatorian of the Class of 1941. After graduation, she worked for one year in the County Auditor's office; she then moved to Portland, Oregon, where she was employed in the regional insurance office of H.K. Coffey and Associates for one year before she enlisted in the Navy WAVES during WWII.
After basic training at Hunter College in New York City, she was enrolled in Yeoman training in Stillwater, Oklahoma. For the remainder of her Navy career, she worked with Ships Service activities on Treasure Island, California; she received her Honorable Discharge in May, 1946.
That fall she was enrolled at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD. While a student, she met Donald Balvin, of Springfield, who served in the Navy during WWII. They married in Gettysburg on November 26, 1948. They became the first married veterans on Northern's campus. She and Don graduated in August, 1950 with B.S. degrees.
Don purchased the Aberdeen School of Commerce in 1951, and Phyllis joined him in teaching there in 1952. This career lasted for 26 years, with the School closing in 1978. She was then employed in the Richardson, Groseclose and Associates law offices for six months before being hired as Human Resources Assistant for St. Luke's to Midland, working there until her retirement in September, 1996.
Phyllis was a 50-plus-year member of Plymouth Congregational Church, where she served terms as Trustee, Deaconess Clerk, Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School and as a member of various committees.
She was a charter member of the South Dakota Chapter A of the T.T.T. holding various offices including President. She was a 50-year member of PEO, and served as President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. Phyllis was a member of MacPherson Chapter of D.A.R. until it disbanded; she then became a member at large; Yellow Brick Road Chapter of Questers; the Epsilon Chapter of S.A.I.; and a Charter member of WIMSA. She enjoyed arts and music and had helped with Community Concert membership drives for many years. She enjoyed traveling, both within and outside the United States.
Phyllis is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan Christiansen and her husband Gordon, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Donald (6/20/25- 5/29/95), her son Douglas (1/20/50-2/12/84), her brother Fred "Rollie", Jr., her sisters Lavelle Romito and Hope Guhin, and her parents.
Adapted from Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home obituary
Phyllis Eileen Balvin was born September 16, 1923, in Gettysburg, SD, to Helen (Nauman) and Fred R. Hinckley, Sr., who served in the army during WWI.
She attended school in Gettysburg graduating as salutatorian of the Class of 1941. After graduation, she worked for one year in the County Auditor's office; she then moved to Portland, Oregon, where she was employed in the regional insurance office of H.K. Coffey and Associates for one year before she enlisted in the Navy WAVES during WWII.
After basic training at Hunter College in New York City, she was enrolled in Yeoman training in Stillwater, Oklahoma. For the remainder of her Navy career, she worked with Ships Service activities on Treasure Island, California; she received her Honorable Discharge in May, 1946.
That fall she was enrolled at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD. While a student, she met Donald Balvin, of Springfield, who served in the Navy during WWII. They married in Gettysburg on November 26, 1948. They became the first married veterans on Northern's campus. She and Don graduated in August, 1950 with B.S. degrees.
Don purchased the Aberdeen School of Commerce in 1951, and Phyllis joined him in teaching there in 1952. This career lasted for 26 years, with the School closing in 1978. She was then employed in the Richardson, Groseclose and Associates law offices for six months before being hired as Human Resources Assistant for St. Luke's to Midland, working there until her retirement in September, 1996.
Phyllis was a 50-plus-year member of Plymouth Congregational Church, where she served terms as Trustee, Deaconess Clerk, Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School and as a member of various committees.
She was a charter member of the South Dakota Chapter A of the T.T.T. holding various offices including President. She was a 50-year member of PEO, and served as President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. Phyllis was a member of MacPherson Chapter of D.A.R. until it disbanded; she then became a member at large; Yellow Brick Road Chapter of Questers; the Epsilon Chapter of S.A.I.; and a Charter member of WIMSA. She enjoyed arts and music and had helped with Community Concert membership drives for many years. She enjoyed traveling, both within and outside the United States.
Phyllis is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan Christiansen and her husband Gordon, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Donald (6/20/25- 5/29/95), her son Douglas (1/20/50-2/12/84), her brother Fred "Rollie", Jr., her sisters Lavelle Romito and Hope Guhin, and her parents.
Adapted from Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home obituary
She attended school in Gettysburg graduating as salutatorian of the Class of 1941. After graduation, she worked for one year in the County Auditor's office; she then moved to Portland, Oregon, where she was employed in the regional insurance office of H.K. Coffey and Associates for one year before she enlisted in the Navy WAVES during WWII.
After basic training at Hunter College in New York City, she was enrolled in Yeoman training in Stillwater, Oklahoma. For the remainder of her Navy career, she worked with Ships Service activities on Treasure Island, California; she received her Honorable Discharge in May, 1946.
That fall she was enrolled at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD. While a student, she met Donald Balvin, of Springfield, who served in the Navy during WWII. They married in Gettysburg on November 26, 1948. They became the first married veterans on Northern's campus. She and Don graduated in August, 1950 with B.S. degrees.
Don purchased the Aberdeen School of Commerce in 1951, and Phyllis joined him in teaching there in 1952. This career lasted for 26 years, with the School closing in 1978. She was then employed in the Richardson, Groseclose and Associates law offices for six months before being hired as Human Resources Assistant for St. Luke's to Midland, working there until her retirement in September, 1996.
Phyllis was a 50-plus-year member of Plymouth Congregational Church, where she served terms as Trustee, Deaconess Clerk, Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School and as a member of various committees.
She was a charter member of the South Dakota Chapter A of the T.T.T. holding various offices including President. She was a 50-year member of PEO, and served as President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. Phyllis was a member of MacPherson Chapter of D.A.R. until it disbanded; she then became a member at large; Yellow Brick Road Chapter of Questers; the Epsilon Chapter of S.A.I.; and a Charter member of WIMSA. She enjoyed arts and music and had helped with Community Concert membership drives for many years. She enjoyed traveling, both within and outside the United States.
Phyllis is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan Christiansen and her husband Gordon, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Donald (6/20/25- 5/29/95), her son Douglas (1/20/50-2/12/84), her brother Fred "Rollie", Jr., her sisters Lavelle Romito and Hope Guhin, and her parents.
Adapted from Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home obituary
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