Nell Lorena Berry was born May 22, 1907, in Gregory County to Thomas and Lorena (McLain) Berry.  The second of four children of former Governor Berry, she was raised on a ranch south of Belvidere in Mellette County with brothers, Baxter and Paul, and sister, Faye.

Tom Berry wanted his children to have a good education, so he sent his wife, Lorena, and the children to Rapid City, where they attended high school.  Nell graduated from Rapid City High School in 1925.

After teaching country grade school south of Norris for one year, she attended Huron College, from which she received a teaching certificate.  She then returned to Belvidere where she taught school for another two years.

In 1930, while attending summer classes at Black Hills Teacher's College in Spearfish, Nell met her future husband, Burrell Phipps.  They were married September 13, 1931, and to that union were born two daughters, Nancy Fay and Judy Ellen.

Burrell and Nell established the Seven Cross Ranch south of Belvidere, where they lived their entire lives of more than 52 years.  Nell loved the ranch and her gardening.  She had an apple orchard and made fabulous apple pies, along with delicious home-baked bread.  She was very interested in history, especially family history.  She researched and compiled books on the genealogy of the Phipps, Berry, and McLain families.

She was very involved in the management of the ranch and was a member of the CowBelles.  She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Kadoka Chapter.

After the death of her husband, Nell moved to Rapid City in 1987.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Burrell Phipps; her brothers, Baxter and Paul; and her sister, Faye, who was married to Ralph Jones of Midland.

She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Phipps of Fort Meade and Judy Keenan of Irvine, California; four grandchildren, Sally Anderson and Cynthia Anderson Weaver, Rapid City; Melinda Kennan, Topeka, Kansas; and Tim Keenan, Irvine; and three great-grandchildren, Anne Sewell, and Michael and Lucinda Weaver.

Services
Saturday, August 16, 1997
10:00 a.m.
Presbyterian Church
Belvidere, South Dakota

Officiating
Pastor Gary McCubbin

Music
Syd Iwan - Organist
Terry Karrels - Vocalist

Ushers
Allen Badure - Barry Jones

Active Pallbearers
Bruce Berry - Neil Peck
Stanton Anderson - Lyle O'Bryan
Jack Brunsch - Joe Stoddard

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Belvidere Cemetery
Belvidere, South Dakota