Walter Benjamin Pharris, 92, passed away Saturday, June 14, 2008 at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice Veterans Home in Hot Springs, SD.
Walter was born on the 23rd of November, 1915 to John and Elizabeth (Christenson) Pharris on a ranch in Keya Paha County, NE. Walter was one of six children born to John and Elizabeth. Of his siblings he is preceded in death by Ada Ileen, Iris Audrey and Wesley Dean. His family lived and worked on the ranch until they moved to Ainsworth, NE then Long Pine, NE where Walt graduated from Long Pine High School. He started Walt's Quality Bread there about 1935.
He joined the United States Navy during World War II and was trained as a gun trainer in Charleston, SC where he married his first wife, Vera Mae Landis. Walter was assigned to the US Pringle in 1941. He served in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters where his ship was an escort for the Lend-lease convoys and in defense of the Island of Guadalcanal. He became friends with the ships baker and taught him many tricks of the trade, especially after finding that there was very little baking equipment on board. Walter was awarded two Purple Hearts for Shrapnel injuries and received an honorable discharge from the Navy in the spring of 1945 at which time he moved to Gregory, SD. Shortly thereafter Vera died of breast cancer.
While in Gregory, Walter began another baking business and became involved in the construction of the Gregory Airport and began his life-long love of flying and building airplanes. There he met Eleanor Stroup and her daughter Kristine. The couple married on January 18, 1953 in Burke, SD. Walt and Eleanor raised their five children Kristine, Bryan, Kenton, Elizabeth and Keith, living most of their early lives in Gregory and Winner. The family moved to Winner where they purchased the DeBuhr Baking Company in 1956 that would eventually become the Pharris Bakery. All of Walt's business endeavors lead him to a career that spanned 68 years.
Everyone that knew Walt was well aware of his hobbies and passions. He wore them like a badge of honor. Photography was one of them. Though he would take pictures of anything, the subject he was most passionate about was his family. Through the lens we are only briefly able to connect with his thoughts at the time the shutter was pressed. But we are forever able to share the moments he captured for us through his adoring eyes. Walt was a great wood craftsman and spent many enjoyable hours in his shop. Building the family home on 10th Street in Winner was his crowning accomplishment. However, chief among his hobbies was flying. Throughout most of his adult life he was planning, building, finishing or figuring out how to get his latest model out of a second story shop.
Above all else, Walt was a family man. The great loves of his life were his wife, Eleanor, who preceded him in death in 1991, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his children, Kris (Bill) Ringstmeyer, Bryan (Cindy) Pharris, Kenton (Lorraine) Pharris, Beth Laabs and Keith (Lin) Pharris, sisters, Janet Calder, Joan (Cliff) Thrasher; sister-in-law, Betty Raschke Pharris; seventeen grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.
Walt would always comment on how important family and fatherhood were to him-stating on innumerable occasions that "these are the best years of your life". His family and friends will miss him greatly.
Memorial services with military honors will be held 3:00 p.m., Saturday, July 12, 2008 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Winner, SD with Fr. Lyle Martin officiating. Burial and scattering of ashes will be held at a later date.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.