Sunday, July 16, 2023 3:47 am
Phyllis C. Faldet age 98 of Decorah, passed away on Friday, July 14, 2023, at Aase Haugen in Decorah.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at Calmar Lutheran Church with Rev. Daryl Thompson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18, at the Helms Funeral Home, 604 South Ave, Decorah, and after 10 a.m. at the church on Wednesday morning.
Phyllis was born on March 23, 1925, in her family home near Ridgeway, to Philip and Cora (Dahle) Knutson and was baptized and confirmed at Madison Lutheran Church, Ridgeway. Elementary grade school was in Madison Township country school then on to Decorah High School where she graduated in 1943. After high school Phyllis was employed as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell while waiting for “Derv” to return home from Europe after WWII.
Dervin Bernell Faldet and Phyllis Corrine Knutson were married on June 9, 1946, at Madison Lutheran Church then made their home in Calmar where they raised three daughters. Phyllis worked part-time for thirty-five years in the cafeteria at South Winneshiek High School enjoying co-workers, staff and particularly students as they grew and matured from Kindergarten to Graduation Day. Her passion for cooking and baking was evident in… the best Duchess Apple Pie around, Norwegian lefsa, rommegrot and sweet soup, homemade bread, buns, and cinnamon rolls, cookin’ up the best Thanksgiving Day Feast followed by Christmas Day Dinner with her delicious ham gravy atop a heap of “smashed tators”! These were a few of her families’ favorites.
Phyllis was a longtime member and actively involved in Calmar Lutheran Church women’s and children’s groups, a member and frequent officer of the American Legion Auxiliary, Calmar Senior Club and enjoyed the fellowship of two women’s sewing clubs in Calmar. Most pleasured and loved times were when she could be with “all the kids”, grandkids and great-grandkids! Crocheting Afghans, quilting and waltzing with “Derv” to the Big Band Era Music at dances in the area were also fond memories as she aged.
Survivors include daughter Linda (Stan) Brandt of rural Ridgeway and son-in-law Roger Larson of Mauston, Wis.; six grandchildren Shira (Patrick) Gebel of Charles City, Brian (Christy) Brandt of Solon, Kristian (Christy) Larson of Reedsburg, Wis., Amanda (Jay) McGeough of Postville, Aaron Nordheim of Monona, and Amy (James) Johnson of Cedar Falls; great-grandchildren are Brandt, Elliott and Sadie Gebel, Greg, Thomas, Charlie and Will Brandt, Kael and Kiah Larson, Kristen and Mason McGeough, Caleb Nordheim and Ella, Cooper and Finley Johnson. Also surviving are nieces and nephews Diane Knutson, Kari (Gary) Anfinson, Philip (Jackie) Rustad, Lana (Marc) Oyloe, Cindy (Merle) Steines, David (Rachel) and Mark (Kristen) Faldet.
Preceding her in death are husband Dervin, daughter Nadine Larson and daughter and son-in-law Julie and James “Jim” Nordheim , parents Philip and Cora, sister and brother-in-law Jeanette and Willie Stenseth, brother-in-law Russell Rustad, parents-in-law Nels and Grace (Musser) Faldet, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Homer and Alphea Olson, Arnold and Irene Faldet, Melbourne and Virginia Faldet and niece Mary Faldet.
Praise God for a life well-lived until He called her to her Heavenly Home!
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My deepest sympathy to the family.