Phillip James Orwick, known to all as Jim, died peacefully on February 19, 2026, at Belle Estates in Belle Fourche, SD.

Jim was born on January 16, 1934, in Deadwood, SD. The son of a Norwegian father, Christ Orwick, and an Irish mother, Katherine Sheridan Orwick, Jim grew up on the Orwick ranch just west of Mud Butte, along with brothers Richard, Bill, and Howard. A sister, Betty Jean, died in infancy.

Jim and his brothers attended elementary school near Mud Butte, often riding their horses back and forth. He attended high school in Newell, SD, graduating in 1951. Jim went to college in Laramie, WY, for two years, worked on the oil wells and eyed sheep before returning to the ranch. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing polo with 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 near Hoover, SD. He ranched in partnership with his brother Howard, raising sheep and cattle, and even though Howard and Jim would work alongside each other all day, they rarely missed an evening phone call to debrief about the day and make plans for the days ahead. Following Howard’s death in 1987, he continued ranching with his nephew Matt and son Jack. Jim enjoyed the Sunday card games at the Hoover Store while having a cold one and visiting with friends and neighbors. Jim made friends wherever he went, and his kids knew that if it was time to head home, it would never be a quick goodbye, because Jim would inevitably stop to have several conversations on the way to the car.

Jim retired in 2016, when he and Joyce moved to Belle Fourche to enjoy their golden years. With the diagnosis of Parkinson's, Jim relied on Joyce as a caretaker as his health declined. Joyce once remarked on the responsibility of being Jim’s caretaker that, “He would do it for me,” which was true of their 64 years of marriage. Facing joys and hardships together made life easier and more enjoyable. Following Joyce’s unexpected death in September 2025, he moved to Belle Estates, where he received wonderful care from the staff there. It didn’t take the staff long to see what simple pleasures Jim enjoyed-good country music, a back scratch, talking about working sheep or ranching, and having a beer from time to time.

Jim was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the SD Sheep Growers Association, and a lifelong guard dog contributor to ASI. He was a founding member of the Castle Rock Volunteer Fire Department.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; his parents, Christ and Kate; brothers, Richard, Bill, and Howard; sister-in-law, Ida Mae Orwick; nephews, Matt and Dick Orwick; niece, Julie Sexton; and grandson, Lane Kopren.

He is survived by his five children, Peter (Amy) Orwick, Jack (Cindy) Orwick, Beverly (Ross) Kopren, Ruth (Dwayne) Adams and Alice (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 and nephews.

Heartfelt gratitude to Jim’s in-home caregivers, Cheryl Anderson, Chelsea Dighton, and Linda Drieske, who provided Jim and Joyce comfort, knowledge, and friendship during Jim’s final years at home.

Memorials have been established to St. Mary’s Church, Newell, SD, St. Joseph’s Church, Mud Butte, SD, St. Paul's in Belle Fourche, the SD Sheep Growers Association, and the Castle Rock Fire Department.

A visitation will take place on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm at St. Mary’s church in Newell, SD, with a Rosary following at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Mary’s church on Saturday, February 28, 2026, beginning at 10:30 am.

A luncheon will be held following the service at Newell City Hall, with burial at Hoover Cemetery.