January 23, 1939-November 6, 2018

Phyllis Edith Stewart was born January 23, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois, to Edith M. and O. Arnold Johnson, joining sister Deloris and brother Wendell. In April, 1939, the family moved to rural Pennock, Minnesota. Phyllis grew up attending Salem Covenant Church, where she was confirmed in her faith in 1953. Elementary and junior high schooling took place at District 14 South, and Phyllis graduated from Willmar High School in 1956.

After high school, Phyllis spent one year at St. Cloud State, then moved to the Twin Cities and began her career in the mail room at the University of Minnesota Hospital. With diligence and hard work, she moved up the ladder, eventually becoming Director of Communications, making many lifelong friends along the way. Phyllis retired in 1996.

On March 9, 1985, Phyl married the love of her life, Bill Stewart. She enjoyed country living, getting back to her farming roots and helping Bill and his family with planting and harvest. One of her regular duties was running the auger to empty grain from the wagons into storage bins during harvest. In retirement, Phyl and Bill enjoyed traveling, visiting almost all 50 states and several different countries. They wintered in Arizona, making many wonderful friends.

Phyllis enjoyed many different activities. She loved dogs, especially Shelties, and trained Mac, Skipper, and Sammy to be lovely, well-behaved dogs. She like to quilt, read and do jigsaw puzzles. She loved to bake and blessed us with goodies like krumkake at Christmas and blonde brownies at the lake. Phyl loved playing the dominos game “Mexican Train”, and was a very serious competitor! She was happy to work at Riverworks Thrift Store with friends from church. Most of all she loved being with family and friends, enjoying meetings and parades with the tractor club, coffee time and suppers with friends and neighbors, and family holiday gatherings.

On November 6, 2018, Phyl went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, after courageously battling cancer for 7 years. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents, sister and brother-in-law Dee and Arlan Tengwall, brother Wendell Johnson, and sister and brother-in-law Judy and Dave Cyr. Phyllis is survived by sister-in-law Kitty Johnson, brothers-in-law Dan (Pat) Stewart, Tom (Laura) Stewart, sister-in-law Liane (Matt) Keane, and many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews, who are grateful for her unwavering love and support, extended family, and friends.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Monday, November 26th. Funeral services for Phyllis Stewart will be held Monday, November 26th, at 7 PM at the Riverwood Covenant Church in Greenfield. Interment will be held Friday, November 30th, at 1:30 PM at the Salem Covenant Church in Pennock, Minnesota.