Rev. Msgr. Marvin McPhee
Deceased: 2014-05-10
Diocese: SIOUX FALLS
ICTE Fall: 1983
Reverend Monsignor Marvin E. McPhee died Saturday May 10, 2014 at Dougherty House on the campus of Avera Prince of Peace in Sioux Falls, SD where he had resided for the past 12 months. His death was preceded by declining health. Monsignor McPhee was eighty-eight years old.
Marvin Edward McPhee was born on September 4, 1925 in Rapid City, SD to Roy and Bernice (nee Kennedy) McPhee. He was raised in Fargo, ND, Aberdeen, SD and eventually Kimball, SD, where he graduated from high school in 1943. Marvin began teaching and coaching immediately after high school graduation. After four years, he enrolled at Northern State College where he graduated in 1949 with an education degree. After college he went on to teach, coach and serve as an administrator at the Bowdle, Westport, SD, Leola, SD, and Lemmon, SD public schools. In 1954 he completed his Master’s Degree in education.
In the fall of 1959, Marvin entered seminary formation, studying philosophy at Saint Jerome Seminary in Kitchener, ONT and theology at Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN. On May 27, 1965, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend Lambert Hoch, Bishop of Sioux Falls, at Sacred Heart Church in Aberdeen.
Upon ordination, Father McPhee was appointed principal and, later, superintendent of Roncalli High School in Aberdeen. Concurrent to these appointments, he also served as Pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish in Groton, SD and All Saints Parish in Andover, SD, continuing until 1979. Father McPhee was then appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Gettysburg, SD, of Holy Cross Parish in Ipswich, SD, and again as Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and All Saints Parishes in Groton and Andover. In 1998, he retired from pastoral assignments.
On October 26, 1996, Pope Saint John Paul II bestowed upon Father McPhee the distinction of Prelate of Honor of His Holiness. The Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, Bishop of Sioux Falls appointed Monsignor McPhee as Vicar General for the Diocese in 1999, an appointment he held until 2004. At the invitation of the Most Reverend Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Denver, Monsignor McPhee served as an episcopal vicar and formator at Saint John Vianney Seminary in Denver, CO from 2004 through 2007. After returning from Denver and though retired, he continued to offer sacramental ministry to religious communities in the diocese, particularly the Franciscan sisters in Mitchell, SD until 2013.
A perpetual student of the Catholic faith, education and stewardship were essential elements to Monsignor McPhee’s priestly ministry, particularly to the youth. Monsignor McPhee will perhaps be remembered best for his untiring efforts to encourage discernment over our unique vocation, always giving special invitation to young men to consider whether they have been called to the priesthood.
Monsignor McPhee was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Chester and his two sisters, Amy McPhee and Mary Kay Schmitt, his brother-in-law Jerome Schmitt, his nephew James Schmitt and his niece Sharon Schmitt.
He is survived by nieces Deb (Wes) Kozeny, Kathy (John) Palma and Nancy Schmitt all of Omaha, NE, Judy (Chris) Hartman of Phoenix, AZ and nephews Steve (Pam) Schmitt and Tom (Joan) Schmitt of Omaha and Greg (Sheila) Schmitt of El Paso, TX.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be prayed for Monsignor McPhee 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 15, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Aberdeen, with Most Rev. Paul J. Swain, Bishop of Sioux Falls, Celebrant, and Reverends Shawn T. Haggerty, Jeffrey Norfolk, Jonathan Venner, and David Garza, Principal Concelebrants. Reverend James P. Morgan will be Homilist. Lector will be Mark Conzemius and offertory gift bearers will be Corey Brown and Justin Cronin. Organists will be JoEllen Lindner and Matthew Hinds and the hymns will be “The King of Love my Shepherd Is”, “Unless a Grain of Wheat”, and “Alleluia, the Strife is Or”. The Roncalli Music Department will sing “Beautiful Savior”. Casketbearers will be Bob Beadle of Bowdle, Matt Cronin of Gettysburg, Bill Morgan of Ipswich, and Tim Beaner of Canistota, SD. Visitation begins at Sacred Heart Church 9:00 AM Thursday. Interment will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Aberdeen immediately following the funeral Mass.
A liturgical wake and scripture service will be prayed at the Saint Augustine Church in Bowdle at 7 PM on Wednesday, May 14. Reverend Shaun Haggerty will lead the wake service. Reverend Jeffrey Norfolk will lead the rosary to follow. Visitation will be held from 3-5:00 PM at the Lien Funeral Home in Bowdle.
Memorials are preferred to the Msgr. Marvin McPhee Endowment for Seminarian Education, Catholic Foundation of Eastern South Dakota, 523 N. Duluth Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104-271
