Phyllis Whited

Phyllis Whited, age 79, of Early, Iowa died Wednesday, August 24, 2005 at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2005 at Faith United Assembly of God Church in Storm Lake, with Reverend Jerry Greenwalt officiating. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery in Early. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2005 at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, where family will be present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Phyllis Jean Minser was born September 18, 1925 south of Early, Iowa, the daughter of Amos and Gertrude (Libby) Minser. She attended the Lake View Schools, graduating from Lake View High School with the Class of 1943.

On April 16, 1946, Phyllis was united in marriage to Norton H. Stephens in Wall Lake, Iowa. They were blessed with five children: Marty, Randy, Gary, Doug and Jeff. In 1968, Phyllis married Richard P. Whited in Omaha, Nebraska.

Phyllis enjoyed playing the piano and singing, and shared her talents readily with those in retirement homes and also for the radio. She liked to plant large gardens each year and then canned the bounty she harvested. You could often find her working on the jigsaw or crossword puzzles that she loved. She was a faithful and active member of Faith United Assembly of God in Storm Lake. Above all, Phyllis prized her family and treasured the time she could spend with them. Her presence will be missed by all those whose lives she touched.

Left to cherish her memory are her five sons: Marty and wife JoAnn Stephens of Phoenix, Arizona; Randy and wife Susan Stephens of Dodge City, Kansas; Gary and wife Jeanne Stephens of Independence, Minnesota; Doug and wife Tammy Stephens of Alta, Iowa; and Jeff and wife Rhonda Stephens of Jackson, Minnesota. Also surviving are her brothers: Earl and wife Norma Minser of Mayville Wisconsin and Bob and wife Gini Minser of Durango, Colorado; one sister, Carol and husband Wade Oryel of Jacksonville, Florida; 17 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and many other extended family members and a host of friends.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Amos and Gertrude Minser, husband Richard Whited, and sister Thelma Gosch.