Jim Orwick

Phillip James Orwick,known to all as Jim, diedpeacefully on February19, 2026, at Belle Estates inBelle Fourche, SD.
Jim was born on January16, 1934, in Deadwood, SD.The son of a Norwegianfather, Christ Orwick,and an Irish mother,Katherine SheridanOrwick, Jim grew up onthe Orwick ranch justwest of Mud Butte, alongwith brothers Richard,Bill, and Howard. Asister, Betty Jean, died ininfancy.
Jim and his brothers attended elementary school near Mud Butte,often riding their horses back and forth. He attended high schoolin Newell, SD, graduating in 1951. Jim went to college in Laramie,WY, for two years, worked on the oil wells and eyed sheep beforereturning to the ranch. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing polowith the neighbors at Mud Butte.
Jim married Joyce MacKrell on July 19, 1961. Shortly thereafter,they moved to his uncles, Howard and Phil Sheridan's, ranch nearHoover, SD. He ranched in partnership with his brother Howard,raising sheep and cattle, and even though Howard and Jim wouldwork alongside each other all day, they rarely missed an eveningphone call to debrief about the day and make plans for the daysahead. Following Howard's death in 1987, he continued ranchingwith his nephew Matt and son Jack. Jim enjoyed the Sunday cardgames at the Hoover Store while having a cold one and visitingwith friends and neighbors. Jim made friends wherever he went,and his kids knew that if it was time to head home, it would neverbe a quick goodbye, because Jim would inevitably stop to haveseveral conversations on the way to the car.
Jim retired in 2016, when he and Joyce moved to Belle Fourche toenjoy their golden years. With the diagnosis of Parkinson's, Jimrelied on Joyce as a caretaker as his health declined. Joyce onceremarked on the responsibility of being Jim's caretaker that, "Hewould do it for me," which was true of their 64 years of marriage.Facing joys and hardships together made life easier and moreenjoyable. Following Joyce's unexpected death in September 2025,he moved to Belle Estates, where he received wonderful care fromthe staff there. It didn't take the staff long to see what simplepleasures Jim enjoyed-good country music, a back scratch, talkingabout working sheep or ranching, and having a beer from time totime.
Jim was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Knights ofColumbus, SD Sheep Growers Association, and a lifelong guarddog contributor to ASI. He was a founding member of the CastleRock Volunteer Fire Department.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; his parents, Christand Kate; brothers, Richard, Bill, and Howard; sister-in-law, IdaMae Orwick; nephews, Matt and Dick Orwick; niece, Julie Sexton;and grandson, Lane Kopren.
He is survived by his fi ve children, Peter (Amy) Orwick, Jack(Cindy) Orwick, Beverly (Ross) Kopren, Ruth (Dwayne) Adams andAlice (John) Boyer; sister-in-law, Susan Orwick; grandchildren,Nichole, JD, James, Jacque, Kyle, Tessa, Abbie, Megan, Sam,Gunner, Stella and 33 great-grandchildren and many nieces andnephews.
Heartfelt gratitude to Jim's in-home caregivers, Cheryl Anderson,Chelsea Dighton, and Linda Drieske, who provided Jim and Joycecomfort, knowledge, and friendship during Jim's fi nal years athome.
Memorials have been established to St. Mary's Church in Newell,SD; St. Joseph's Church in Mud Butte, SD; St. Paul's in BelleFourche; the SD Sheep Growers Association; and the Castle RockFire Department.
A visitation will take place on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 5:30pm - 7:00 pm at St. Mary's church in Newell, SD, with a Rosaryfollowing at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St.Mary's Church on Saturday, February 28, 2026, beginning at 10:30am.
A luncheon will be held following the service at Newell City Hall,with burial at Hoover Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family atwww.kinkadefunerals.com.