Rush Funeral Home Logo
Logo Image
(605) 859-2400 You can call us 24/7
Newsletter Get new obituaries by email
Search Search through the obituaries




Print Obituary

In memory of

Pearl E. Fairchild

of Philip, South Dakota, died on Friday, November 30, 2007 at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip at the age of 88

Pearl Kuchenbecker was born January 3, 1919, in Madison, South Dakota, the daughter of John and Clara (McBride) Kuchenbecker. She and her sisters helped her parents run a cafe for several years before moving to Haakon County. She resided on a farm north of Philip, and when she reached high school age, she and her sisters boarded in Philip and graduated from Philip High School. After graduation, she traveled to California and married Russell Fairchild in Long Beach, California. Russell was a military man, and after a time they settled in Norfolk, Virginia. While raising the four boys, Pearl opened Fairchild’s Beauty Salon, which she ran until they retired. They traveled for sixteen years, with spring and summer in Philip. After Russell’s death the years passed on. Then Pearl met Jud Fennell and they enjoyed nine years of travel, bowling, horseshoes and friendship. After Jud’s death, Pearl enjoyed her bridge clubs where she played weekly and monthly. She volunteered at the Philip Nursing Home every Wednesday, and also played rummy on Friday nights with her wonderful friends, Did and Shirley Parsons and Sharon Coyle. She shared many happy times with the faithful dear friends, Shirley Dennis, Jean Radway, Dorothy Stahl, Mildred Radway, and so many other friends in Philip.
Survivors include two sons John Russell Fairchild of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Donald Ray Fairchild of Tyro, Virginia; five grandchildren Shane Coleman, Tracy Fairchild, Bernie Fairchild, Tammy Jane Fairchild, and Barbara Ann Fairchild; five great-grandchildren; one brother John Kuchenbecker and his wife Gladys of Gettysburg, and their sons Keith, Mike, and Kevin; one sister Elizabeth Christensen of Vermillion, and her daughter Janice Kay Emmick; nieces and nephews Clair, Gary, and Bill Smith, Adell Nye, Deanna Bottjer, Kent and Bruce Fairchild, and Marsha Sumpter; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Pearl was preceded in death by her husband Russell E. Fairchild; two sons Roger Eugene and Arlie Dean Fairchild; her parents; one brother Harry Kuchenbecker; and two sisters Dorothy Smith and Gladys Drew.
There will be no visitation.
Graveside services were held 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 7, at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.
Memorials may be sent to John Fairchild, 4701 Kempsville Greens Pkwy., Virginia Beach, VA, 23462

Graveside Services:  10:00 a.m. Friday, December 7, at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.

  • It was so nice Great-great Aunt Pearl came to Thanksgiving last year at Kadoka with us all. She looked great. She was the last of our elders and it's so sad becuase when we would come over we would always visit Aunt Pearl, Aunt Edna, Grandma Ruth, and Grandma Bea. I am so thankful I got to know each and every one of them. I know there are many people that never get to know theirs elders. We just have to be happy she didnt have to suffer over kimo and that she had a great life. She is now in heaven with everyone else. ~ Amanda May Watertown, SD (11/30/2007)
  • Pearl was sweet and kind, but also very spunky! We enjoyed her and Jud so much at bowling. She made everyone feel special. We'll miss Pearl very much. ~ Arlene & Jim Kujawa Kadoka, SD (11/30/2007)
  • It's going to seem terribly quiet over across the driveway in the days and weeks ahead. Pearl was a wonderful neighbor and friend. She was always there with a good joke or a kind word if that is what she felt you needed. If you needed your hiney kicked, she could do that too!! We'll miss you Pearl. ~ Shirley Dennis Philip, SD (11/30/2007)
  • Bill and I shared many summers with Pearl and Russ from the early 70's until the present. Don and John, you did a fantastic job of taking care of Pearl and letting her do things her way. Love Cousin Marsha ~ Bill and Marsha Sumpter Kadoka (11/30/2007)
  • Aunt Pearl led a full life. Some of my earliest memories include going to her house for Christmas dinner and she would always give us a crisp 2 dollar bill. My thoughts and prayers go out to John and Don. She will me missed. ~ Eric Seager Sioux Falls, SD (11/30/2007)
  • Love, fun, memories and so much more is what my Aunt Pearl showed all our family. Those memories will always be cherish. God Bless Don and John. Love Ya - Your Ol' Cousin Janice Kay ~ Janice Emmick Vermillion,SD (11/30/2007)
  • The passing of a mother is very difficult. John, we are only sorry that we didn't have the opportunity to meet Mom. After hearing the stories from your trips and conversations with her, we felt as if we knew her. You are in our thoughts and prayers. ~ Andrea & Douglas Dillon Galloway, NJ (11/30/2007)
  • Great Aunt Pearl... What can I say... She was a great aunt. She never wanted us to call her great aunt so she was Pearl to us! We had so many fun times together... piercing my ears with potatoes, yeah ouch!, coming out of our high school to her and uncle Russ yelling over their motorhome loud speaker... Holly and Trudy Hill we are over here... Yeah that wasn't embarassing as a teenager!!! But what a great memory!Going to the boat together with her sister Elizabeth and the most recent trip to see her on her birthday when she was the bingo caller and loving every minute that she got to make up the games! She definently had a great life thanks to her two sons that looked after their mother with such loving care. I can only hope that I would do as great of a job as they have done! She had alot to be proud of in them. Aunt Pearl you will be missed but never never fogotten! ~ Holly Annis Vermillion, SD (11/30/2007)
  • We really enjoyed Aunt Pearl. She kinda was a mother to me. Love Janet ~ Janet Snow 9788 Swede Cr. Rd. Palo Cedro,CA 96073 (11/30/2007)
  • The Fennell Family was sad to hear of Pearls passing. My Uncle Jud and Pearl had a special relationship and enjoyed their last few years together. God Bless ~ Robert D. Fennell 8677 SW 1st Place, Coral Springs, FL 33071 (11/30/2007)
  • I am another nephew of Jud Fennell and the son of Jud's late sister, Grace, of Pierre. My wife, Brenda, and I enjoyed visits with Pearl and Jud in Philip and welcomed their visits to my parents' home in Pierre. We considered ourselves fortunate to have known Pearl; she and Jud had some great years together. ~ Don Summerside Omaha Neb. (11/30/2007)
  • Pearl was my Dad's (Earl Kuchenbecker) cousin. Her and Dude would visit us in California. They were so much fun.

    Bev (Kuchenbecker) Herman     ~ Beverly Herman 16772 Summercloud Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (11/30/2007)