Dr. Robert J. Foley

CELEBRANT
Fr. Charles Cimpl
MUSIC
Organist & Soloist ~ Kathy Koenig
Bagpiper ~ Dr. John Brady
St. Leo Choir
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Scott Crouse
Dr. Glenn Duncan
Charles Campbell
Dr. John English
William Hoch 
Dr. Herb Saloum
Wayne Schuurmans
Dale VanGerpen
Dr. Robert J. Foley died Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in Tyndall, South Dakota at St. Michael’s Hospital Avera after a courageous battle with cancer.  He had attained the age of 87 years, 3 months and 15 days.
Emergency surgery that saved his life as a youngster motivated him to become a doctor - a difficult goal in those depression years.  Born Friday, April 13, 1923 to Robert and Alma (Johnson) Foley of Blair, Nebraska, he graduated from Blair High School and attended Dana College there for a year. To help meet expenses when at Creighton University, each day after classes he worked a full 10-hour shift at Walgreens.  Later, he became a manager at Harkett’s Burgers.  Each job paid 15 cents an hour.  Best at Harkett’s, the hourly wage included a bowl of soup and a burger.  He was accepted into the wartime accelerated V-12 program at Miami University School of Medicine in Ohio.  Upon completion, he received his medical degree from the University of Nebraska at the young age of 23.  He interned at Mercy Hospital and Loyola University clinics in Chicago.  He then spent three years in the naval service as a physician and medical officer, Lt. senior grade.
A blind date arranged by friends introduced him to Phyllis Gross of Huron, South Dakota, the girl he married December 27, 1950.
He served on the staff of the US Naval Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.  Upon his discharge from the Navy, the couple arrived in Tyndall for what they thought would be a 6-month stay that lasted a lifetime.  He established practice in a two-room office above the then post office and went to work.  At times he was the sole physician in the county where he served as the family doctor, surgeon, orthopedist and delivered a recorded 1,600 babies including 5 sets of twins.  Dr. Foley was the family physician to generations of families in and around the Tyndall area during his many years of practice.  The couple raised their family of seven - six sons and one daughter - in this community - a town they loved.
Tyndall’s acceptance was immediate and soon resulted in the enlargement of the hospital.  Dr. Foley established the Tyndall Clinic, which endures today as the Bon Homme Family Practice Clinic in St. Michael’s Hospital Avera.
Although he encouraged his family to be independent and make their own decisions in life, it was of great personal satisfaction that four children chose the field of medicine.  His own passion for medicine was rivaled only by the love of family, farming and environmental conservation.
He was recognized for his 50-plus continuous years of practice by the South Dakota State Medical Association.  During this time he served on the clinical faculty of the USD School of Medicine, on the SD Medical Association Legislative Commission and as a president of the Yankton District Medical Association.  In Tyndall, he was a member of the school board and was instrumental in promoting the Tyndall Lanes, which has been given to the city.  He helped initiate building the Tyndall swimming pool and served as a pool board member.  He was a 50-year member of St. Leo Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife Phyllis of Tyndall and their seven children: Bob, Albemarle, North Carolina; Don, Yankton, South Dakota; Steve, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Jeff (Sara), Harrisburg, North Carolina; Scott (Ronda), Omaha, Nebraska; Elizabeth (James) Zorn, Phoenix, Arizona; Shawn (Janel), Philomath, Oregon; and eleven grandchildren.  Four members of his birth family, three brothers and a sister, reside in Nebraska.
The many people whose lives were touched by Dr. Foley will remember him as a dedicated physician and friend.  He will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider the Foley Family Medical Scholarship at the Sanford School of Medicine, USD, Vermillion SD.  This award is given annually to a student with an interest in rural medicine.