Phyllis A. Feldt, 89, Lakeville, Minn.

A committal service for Phyllis A. Feldt was held Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley, with Pastor Chris Nitzel officiating. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Phyllis was the first-born daughter of Max and Mable Hinz on March 5, 1931, in Dale Township, O’Brien County. The family lived on several different farms in the area before settling on a farm southwest of Hartley with her three energetic, fun-loving sisters. That is where she learned about hard work and perseverance, skills that served her well into adulthood. Phyllis was confirmed in 1945 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley and graduated from Hartley High School in 1948.

Following high school, Phyllis attended the American Institute of Business (AIB) in Des Moines. She was a good student in high school and AIB as evidenced by her position on the honor roll. After graduating from AIB, Phyllis was hired by the Iowa State Board of Parole as a secretary and court stenographer. She met Robert Junior Feldt, of St. Ansgar, after being set up on a blind date by her best friend. The couple was married on March 31, 1951 and began their life together in Waterloo before eventually settling in Redwood Falls, Minn. in November 1954. They were divorced in April 1970. After the divorce, Phyllis remained in Redwood Falls where she raised her five children by herself.

Her professional career included work at the American State Bank in Redwood Falls. She also became a licensed insurance agent after completing coursework through the American Mutual Insurance Alliance and was put in charge of the insurance agency at the bank. In 1972 she ran for the Redwood County clerk position. Being the strong, independent and hard-working woman that she was, she purchased the local Dairy Queen franchise in 1976 in order to better support her family. The following year it was remodeled to a DQ Brazier with a full food menu and frozen cakes added to the dessert list. She sold the business after 24 years. In 1990, she became a licensed realtor in both Minnesota and Iowa.

Phyllis passed away into the loving arms of her dear Savior at the age of 89 on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, after a long, full life. She was a devout Lutheran who believed that God had a plan and purpose for everyone.

Phyllis is survived by two sisters; Marlene Nagel and Margaret (Peg) Ebel (Jim Ebel), of Milford; her five children; Michael Feldt, of Burnsville, Minn.; Pamela Feldt, of St. Louis Park, Minn.; Alison Feldt, of Northfield, Minn.; Robert Feldt (Lorri Feldt), of LaPorte, Ind.; and Jennifer (Feldt) Hockin (Tim Hockin), of Wausau, Wis.; her five grandchildren; her brother-in-law, Harold Feldt, of St. Ansgar; and numerous nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews.