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Mary Alice Deuchar, age 83, of Philip, South Dakota, died Sunday, July 24, 2005, at the Philip Nursing Home.

Mary Alice Neville was born December 25, 1921, in a washtub on her parents’ homestead in Milesville, South Dakota, the daughter of Dewitt Clinton and Harriet Adams (Stiles) Neville. She grew up on the farm in the Milesville community taking her education at Fairplay and Hart rural schools, and three years of high school at Philip. As a young youth, she worked as a maid at the Cheney Ranch in the Milesville area and at the Bjorge mansion in Lead.

Mary was united in marriage to Raymond Deuchar on December 28, 1941 at the First Lutheran Church in Milesville, where she was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith. They made their home on the Deuchar farm in the Milesville area until 1975, when they moved to Philip.

Her husband Raymond preceded her in death on December 18, 1997. After his death, she continued to reside in Philip. Due to health reasons, she moved into the Philip Nursing Home in May 2004, where she has since resided.

While in Philip, Mary Alice was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, a member of the Federated Women’s Club of Philip, serving as president in 1982, and she was a secret grandmother for FHA.

Mary Alice began to write poetry in high school and also found a love and talent for drawing. She took singing lessons in high school and sang frequently at banquets and social functions. An interest in drama also developed, and she was active in plays throughout her life, from high school plays as a youth, to Milesville plays when she was a wife and mother. Mary Alice taught herself to play the harmonica and has entertained many times at the nursing home.  She enjoyed playing her harmonica with her friends Maurice Falzone and Marie Hansen.   Being a very creative person and possessing as she says, "a God given talent" she continued with her drawing and sketching, working with pastels and subsequently producing some very beautiful paintings.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children Joan Bessette and her husband Duane of Philip, Cheryl Harry and her husband Keith of Midland, Gene Deuchar and his wife Theresa of Milesville, and James Deuchar of Rapid City; thirteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; a sister Helen Wegner of Hanna, Wyoming; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband Raymond, Mary Alice was preceded in death a daughter Dianne Faye Anderson, three brothers Allen, Andrew, and Isaac Neville; and a half sister Katherine Sykes.

Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Thursday.

Funeral services weree held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 28, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Philip, with Pastor Robert Oettel officiating.

Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery, Philip.

A memorial is established.

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