Phyllis A. Karpinske, age 87, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2015, at a care center in Watertown. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2015, at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Pastor Scott Dempster will officiate. The family is requested to meet at the chapel on Thursday by 1:30 p.m. for a prayer service.
Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the chapel on Thursday. Condolences may be left at
Phyllis was born on February 03, 1928, in Wallace, SD, to Herman and Hustra (Brovold) Johnson. She attended country schools near Wallace. After her mother passed away, Phyllis helped in raising her two younger siblings. In 1947, Phyllis moved from Wallace to Watertown.
On September 18, 1948, Phyllis married Leo Karpinske in Willmar, MN. She raised four children. Phyllis worked various jobs in Watertown and made her career working at Minnesota Rubber for more than 20 years.
She was a member of St. Pauli Lutheran Church and the Machinist Union. Phyllis enjoyed knitting, sewing, baking, cooking, gardening, taking vacations and spending time with family, especially her children and grandchildren.
Phyllis is survived by three sons: Ralph Karpinske of Watertown, Floyd Karpinske of Albee, SD, and Curtis (Cathy) Karpinske of Watertown; one daughter, Janet (Bernie Pence) Lee, of Aberdeen, SD; 11 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; one brother, Howard (Mila) Johnson, of Sioux Falls, SD; one sister, Betty Tiesen, of Dell Rapids, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo; her twin grandsons; one great-granddaughter; her parents; two brothers; and two sisters.