George Aden Bovill was born on November 28, 1937, to Rose A. (Voegeli) and Robert J. Bovill in rural Beresford, SD.  He passed away December 23, 2019, peacefully at the age of 82 years and 25 days. He attended school at Pleasant Valley country school and Beresford High School but left after his sophomore year to help with the farm when Robert J. was diagnosed with cancer.  George continued to farm and take care of his mother following the death of his father. He loved nature, animals, and farming, and enjoyed repairing broken things and even manufactured a few new ones.

He married Phyllis Schrag at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church in Freeman, SD, on August 16, 1964.  They were blessed with three daughters: Nancy, Donna, and Lynnette. Together, they took care of his handicapped mother, raised their family, and became foster parents to three other teenage children. George's delight was always his family - his wife, children, and grandchildren.  They were a huge part of his world.

A quiet, humble man, he was compassionate and considerate, willing to help someone in need. His journey through life was often difficult with many hurdles and hurts, but in the early 1980's, he put his trust in Jesus Christ, repented, received forgiveness for his sins, and forgave those who had hurt him. He was baptized by Reverend Raymond Petersen and became a man of strong, deep, unshakeable faith.

George and Phyllis moved into Beresford in 1998. In May of 2016, his health began to fail, and he moved to Bethesda where he remained until his passing.  George made up his mind to be happy there, and so he was cheerful, appreciative, and thankful for the care he received and especially for his caregivers. He viewed them all as part of his family, making many friends at Bethesda. When he became wheelchair-bound, he enjoyed his new mobility and was frequently seen throughout the facility attending activities, looking out the windows, and sitting on the patio.

George loved coffee and was seldom without a coffee cup tucked under his shirt or a fresh cup in his hand.  He liked to sit in the dining room drinking coffee, watching the kitchen staff go about their duties and visitors passing by in the hallway. He also liked ice cream and included it in most of his meals.

George relied on the radio (KNWC) as an anchor and encouragement throughout his days and nights. He gleaned much from the messages of the various pastors who came to provide chapel services at Bethesda.

George is survived by his wife of 55 years, Phyllis; his daughters, Nancy (Dan) Piner, Morehead City, NC, and Donna (David) Neuman, Beresford, SD; and Dery Lee (Jamie) Miles of Spearfish, SD; grandchildren Michaela Piner, George Neuman, Ciara Neuman, Chase Neuman, Qeleigh Neuman, and Faith Miles, as well as a host of other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lynnette Bovill, his parents, and his brother and sister-in-law, Robert (Bob) and Audrey Bovill.

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, December 26 at Wass Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:00 PM.  Burial will take place at Zion Methodist Cemetery at 12:30 PM on Friday, December 27.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, December 27, 2019 at Brooklyn Evangelical Free Church.  Memorials may be directed to KNWC FM Radio in George's memory.

Our family wishes to thank: the staff of Bethesda for the loving care they gave George during his stay there; Pastor Raymond Petersen, Pastor Arlyn Abrams, Pastor John Mochel, and Pastor Carla Nelson for the spiritual help offered to George; all the saints who have held us up with their prayers; the caretakers at Bethesda who loved George like family and treated him like a king; and also the ladies of Brooklyn Church for helping us to serve our guests.