Marcella Bushfield

Marcella, or Sally, as her friends and family called her, died Sunday, June 23 in Sun City, AZ at 91. She was born March 15, 1922 to John and Louisa Schaefers of the Polo area. She attended St. Liborius Catholic Grade School and Fairview High School. She started working in the Hand County Court House in Miller and went on to become a teller in the First National Bank of Miller. In the fall of 1943 during WW2, Sally decided to go to California where she found a job in the laboratory of Texas Oil Refinery. While in Long Beach, California Marcella attended college part time. She married Harlan Bushfield from Miller, December 1,1945 in Long Beach, CA when WW2 ended and he was discharged. They went to Washington, DC where Harlan’s father was a US Senator from South Dakota. After working there for a short time, they moved to NJ and Harlan did graduate work in agricultural business. They returned to Miller, S.D. where they bought land to begin a farming/ranching career and later Harlan entered insurance and banking. They had five children who all graduated from Miller High School and attended the University of South Dakota. With 5 active children growing up in Miller, Sally spent much of her time as Den Mother for Cub Scouts, Brownie Scout Leader or 4H leader. She was active in St. Ann’s Catholic Church as President of the Altar Society, also Principal of the C.C.D. She has been in PEO in Miller for over 30 years and was also instrumental in the annual selection of a Hand county girl for a scholarship program through PEO. Harlan and Sally retired to Sun City, AZ in 1986 and became full time residents there in 1999. Sally kept busy in their retirement with their 5 children, 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. She enjoyed many friendships with their South Dakota and Arizona friends, golf with friends and family, activities in their church and membership at Union Hills Country Club in Sun City. She is loved by all who knew her especially by her family. She is survived by her husband, Harlan(Huck) of Sun City, AZ; her son, Bob Bushfield (Suzanne), Sioux Falls, SD and Peoria, AZ; daughters, Debbie Windemiller(Skip), Hampton Beach, NH; Sherry Assmus(Tom), Littleton, CO; Jan(Curt) Liedtke of Sturgis, SD; Lynn (Jeff) Marso, Sun Valley, CA. She is also survived by her siblings; Kay Martinmaas, Miller and Jack (JoAnn) Schaefers, Orient/Polo as well as 10 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Genevieve Locke and Dorine Venjohn. A memorial Mass will be held on September 30th at 10:30 AM at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Miller, SD. Memorial donations will be given to the Catholic education program at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Miller, SD.