Mavis Irene Newell Bolling was born on June 17, 1914 seven miles north of Forestburg in a farmhouse in Sanborn County to Scott and Grace (Amick) Phillips. Mavis was the first-born and had two brothers and two sisters-Lawrence, LaVerne, Imogene and Eunice.  She attended Lane Consolidated School, Newcome School and graduated from Wessington Springs High School.  After graduation, Mavis attended Wessington Springs Junior College and earned a teaching certificate.  She taught in several country schools in Beadle, Sanborn and Davison Counties.

     Mavis was married to Harold D. Newell in July, 1939 near Huron.  They moved to rural Letcher where they farmed until 1970.  They had a son, Philip Delmar, who died in infancy.  They had no other children, but they took several foster children into their home over the years.

     In August, 1975 Mavis married Winwood “Earl” Bolling in Letcher, SD.  They moved to Earl’s home Belleview, Washington and lived there for several years.  They returned to South Dakota in 1980 and lived on the farm near Letcher until 1985 when they moved to Mitchell.

     Mavis enjoyed doing handicraft and was a member of Prairie People Handicraft Club for twenty-nine years.  She helped organize the group and served as treasurer, bookkeeper and sales representative.  Gardening was another one of her passions-raising roses, peonies and many other flowers.  She loved her family and was always interested in the activities of her many nieces and nephews.  She had a deep abiding love for God.

     Grateful for sharing her life are her sister, Eunice Postma, Kansas City, MO, and her nieces and nephews, Mark Phillips, Jennifer Chance, Joyce Olson, Maureen Kunkel, David Phillips, Larry Phillips, Vicki Phillips-Sonne, Leslie Barber, Scott Phillips, Nate Postma, Natalae Postma Tillman, Scott Postma, Judi Cummings, Sandy Dahme, Melvin Schimke and Gary Schimke. 

     Preceding her in death are her parents, her husbands, Harold and Earl, her son, Philip, her brothers, Lawrence Phillips and LaVerne Phillips, her sister, Imogene in infancy and her nephew, Gary Phillips.