Obituary: Carlson, Phyllis I.
Went home to the Lord on November 30, 2013, at Sheffield Manor in Prosser.
Phyllis was born on July 21, 1921, in Reardan, Washington.
She was the youngest of three daughters born to Roy and Irma Plaster having been born shortly after her twin sister Doris.
The “twins” often ganged up to torment their older sister Evelyn, although they were always quick to say she deserved it!
Phyllis graduated from Reardan High School in 1939 and went on to Washington State where she earned a degree in Home Economics Dietetics in 1943 and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.
After graduation Phyllis began her adventures as a dietitian interning at Peter Brent Brigham Hospital in Boston and then working in hospitals in Indianapolis and Portland.
She married Keith Carlson in June of 1947, and they moved to Moscow, ID.
He was working for Washburn Wilson Seed Company, and she was working for a dorm at the University of Idaho.
In 1949 they moved to Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, where Keith was transferred.
Their first daughter, Diane, was born there.
The young family moved back to Moscow in 1950 where their second daughter, Alix, was born.
Then in 1952 the family moved back to Reardan to the house and farm where Phyllis was born.
She and her husband Keith farmed for 33 years until his death in 1985.
Two sons, Kirk and Brent, were added to the family during this time.
Phyllis worked as a stay at home mom.
She had a huge garden and spent many hours working in it.
She canned and froze all kinds of fruits and vegetables for her family.
She also sewed many outfits for her children and herself.
She taught Sunday School and was a 4-H leader.
She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Spring Creek Grange, P.E.O.
Chapter N, and several bridge groups.
When the kids were in school, Phyllis and her friend Gerri Ann Stevenson went back to school to renew their dietitian licenses, even going by snowmobile to get to some of their classes when we were snowed in.
She was proud when she donned her crisp white uniform and went to work at Lincoln Hospital in Davenport, Washington, where she worked until she retired in 1986 after 22 years.
She also worked as a dietary consultant at the hospital in Odessa and was a member of the American Dietetics Association.
After Keith died the next chapter in her life began.
Phyllis moved to Spokane to live across the street from her twin sister Doris.
They had nearly 20 years to enjoy each other again until Doris and her husband Robert moved to Wisconsin to be closer to their family.
While in Spokane Phyllis attended computer and bridge classes at the Spokane Community College and was a member of P.E.O.
Chapter CQ and the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
She travelled extensively during this period, both to visit with her far flung family and to see the world.
We almost lost her in January of 2007 when she slipped, broke her hip, and remained outside in below freezing temperatures for 16 hours before a neighbor luckily saw her.
She proved once again that she was a tough cookie!
After recovering from that experience she moved to Riverview Retirement Community in Spokane where she lived until February when she moved to Sheffield Manor in Prosser.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Irma Plaster, her sister Evelyn Bafus, her husband Keith Carlson and her brother-in-laws Adrian Bafus and Robert Reitz.
She is survived by her four children Diane (Dennis) Miller of Sherwood, OR, Alix Carlson of Grandview, WA, Kirk (Brye) Carlson of Columbia, S.C., and Brent (Janine) Carlson of Hope, Idaho, five grandchildren, three great- grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and four step-great-grand- children, sister Doris Reitz of Edgerton, Wisconsin, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Many thanks to Joan and her staff for the loving care Phyllis received at Sheffield Manor and to Heartlinks Lower Valley Hospice for making sure Phyllis was comfortable during her last days.
In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to Lutheran World Relief, P.E.O., Heartlinks Lower Valley Hospice, or a charity of your choice.
Graveside service, Friday, December 6, 2013 at 1:00PM at the Reardan Cemetery followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00PM at the Emmanual Lutheran Church, Reardan, WA with Pastors Phil Falk and Joan Sounders, officiating.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.stratefuneralhome.com.
STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DAVENPORT, WA is caring for the family.