Phyllis Waller

Phyllis Hermoine Waller, 91, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2009 at the Mt. Olivet Careview Home in Minneapolis. She formerly lived at 812 Boxelder Street in Marshall, MN. Phyllis was born on October 18, 1917 to Gertrude Marie (Elms) and Clarence Earl Wiley in Ortonville, Minnesota. She attended Ortonville Public Schools where she was an excellent student and active in music, drama, and basketball. After graduation in 1935, Phyllis earned her degree in elementary education at Minnesota State Teachers College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She taught in several Minnesota communities before coming to Marshall where she taught at the elementary school and at Holy Redeemer. Phyllis married Marshall art teacher Julian Waller on August 19, 1944. This union was blessed with three children: Nancy, Steve, and Craig. Phyllis was also was actively involved at First Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir and helped with quilt-making. Her community activities included study club, bridge club, cancer society, dancing club, and faculty wives. Phyllis was an excellent cook, and we all remember her delicious potato salad! She and Jules both enjoyed golfing and traveling including a trip to Norway. Phyllis will be sadly missed by her family and friends. She was a wonderful and loving Grandmother to her eight grandchildren and spent many special times with all of them. Being with her family was her most cherished activity. She especially loved the times that she and Jules spent with everyone at the cabin in Shell Lake, Wisconsin. Phyllis is survived by her daughter Nancy (Steve) Grundahl of Minneapolis and their family: Randi (Rick) Rexroth of Minneapolis and Leif (Tanya) Grundahl of Minneapolis and great-grandson, Jackson; Steve (Mary) Waller of La Crescent, MN and their family: Andrew (Emily) Waller of Stillwater and great-grandchildren, Anna and Erik, Mark Waller (Brigitte Mussack) of Minneapolis, and Dan Waller of St. Louis Park; and Craig (Rebecca) Waller of Eden Prairie and their family: Kirk, Laura, and Sarah. She is also survived by her sister Jeanne Schmidt of Fallbrook, CA and sister-in-law LaVerne Wiley of Ortonville, MN as well as many nieces and nephews. Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Jules; her parents; her brother Francis; and her great-grandson, Eli Stephen Grundahl. A memorial gathering will be held at First Lutheran Church in Marshall on Wednesday, July 1st at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Robert Dahl will officiate and burial will follow at the Marshall Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the First Lutheran Church Choir of Marshall, Mt. Olivet Careview Home of Minneapolis or a charity of your choice.