Phyllis Stegner, 90, of Rhame, ND, passed away on Friday, June 29th, 2012, at Lincoln Meadows Senior Living Community in Parker, CO. Funeral services for Phyllis will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the Bowman Lutheran Church, Bowman, ND. There will be a family and friends visitation on Friday, July 20 at Krebsbach/Kulseth Funeral Home from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Phyllis Eleanor Stegner
Phyllis Eleanor Lungstrom was born on December 21, 1921, in Rhame, ND, to Elvera Lungstrom. She attended school north of Rhame until the 7th grade when she moved to Marmarth, ND. She graduated from Marmarth High School in 1940.
In 1941 she married Joseph Holecek. They had three children; LaVon, Ronald, and JoAnn. Their marriage was a happy one, and they could often be found on weekends at the local dances; something they both greatly enjoyed. Unfortunately while Phyllis was pregnant with her third child, JoAnn, Joe was killed in a farm accident. Phyllis moved to Rhame and continued to raise her three children. Single parenting wasn't easy even then, but Phyllis was a skilled cook, seamstress, and frugal money manager, thus providing her family with a comfortable, loving home.
In 1953 Phyllis married a young farmer, Bill Stegner. She moved 3 ½ miles north of Rhame with her three children to the farm/ranch which Bill ran along with his brother Harold. Their family grew with the addition of two more children, LaRee and Melinda. Phyllis continued as a diligent homemaker. She kept a spotless house, sewed many dresses and coats for her children, tended a large garden, and provided delicious meals for her family. She enjoyed volunteering and helping friends and neighbors with everything from child care to hair styling. For many years Phyllis volunteered as a Gray Lady at the Sunset Home fixing hair for the residents. She was an active member of the Rhame Lutheran Church, attending women's groups, Bible Studies, and (her favorite) quilting blankets for world relief and charity organizations. For two summers she welcomed disadvantaged girls to the farm to see a different side of life.
Bill was a director on the Consolidated Telephone board, which afforded them opportunities to travel throughout the United States, but the trip Phyllis enjoyed the most was a tour through the Swiss Alps, Austria, and Germany.
After retirement in 2002 Phyllis and Bill moved to Bowman, ND. They spent many happy years enjoying the community, church, and friends. Phyllis loved reading, quilting, and taking care of her home and yard. In 2011 the couple moved to Parker, CO to be closer to family for which we will be forever grateful.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Vernie and Elvera Clark, husband Joseph Holecek, brothers Dwain, Leland, and Russel, son-in-law Dan Reeter, daughter-in-law Marguerite Holecek, and son-in-law Fredrik Amlee. Surviving Phyllis is her husband William, brother Carlyle Clark, sisters Rosalie (Jake) Wolf, Donna Arnell, and Verna (Darrel) Magnuson, children LaVon Amlee of Seabrook, TX, Ronald Holecek of Laguna Beach, CA, JoAnn Reeter of castle Rock, CO, LaRee (Jake) Udris of Highlands Ranch, CO, Melinda Stegner of Highlands Ranch, CO, grandchildren Erik (Aleda Jonquil) Amlee, Dan (Kari Nynas) Reeter, Aleks Udris, Whitney Reeter, Ingrid (Evan Calvert) Udris, Karl Udris, great grandchildren Taylor Nynas and Scarlett Amlee.
Phyllis was a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend. She will be greatly missed, but fondly remembered.