Phyllis Soper

Phyllis Soper, age 94, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Thursday, November 24th, at Essentia First Care Living Center in Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 30th, at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Paul Magelssen officiating. Interment will be in the Bagley City Cemetery, Bagley, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Tuesday, November 29th, at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com. Phyllis was born October 30, 1922 in Bemidji Minnesota. She was the youngest of seven children born to William and Edith (Chamberlin) Boyer. Her formative years were spent on their farm south of Bemidji in the Carr Lake community. The importance of education and an appreciation of Carr Lake School was instilled in Phyllis early in life having a mother who taught and served on the Carr Lake school board, a father who drove a horse drawn school bus wagon, and a sister Ethel also a teacher at Carr Lake School. Phyllis graduated from Carr Lake Grammar School in 1936 and from Bemidji High School in 1940. In her Commencement Memory Book a favorite teacher wrote: If you are always cooperative and appreciative you will make many real friends. Phyllis lived up to that quote and that with her quick wit and sense of humor endeared her to many people. Following high school graduation, Phyllis furthered her education at Frenchs Business College in Bemidji, graduating in 1942. Following business college, she moved to Lewiston Idaho living with her sister Argie and working in banking until 1943. On December 31,1943, Phyllis married Wendell Loring Soper of Bagley, MN. They made their first home on Wendells farm south of Bagley. Wendell farmed and Phyllis pursued a Civil Service position working in the War Price and Rationing Board Office of Bagley until 1945. Wendells purchase of the Fosston J.I. Case company in 1950 brought them to Fosston in 1952 with the first three of their five daughters. Phyllis enjoyed homemaking and teaching the pre-school age Sunday School class at Hope Lutheran Church. She and Wendell belonged to a square dancing group, enjoyed cards with friends, and were able to take several memorable trips to Miami, the Bahamas, and the western states. Phyllis would say that the best times of her life were when her girls were little. She especially enjoyed summers with friends at the lakes and taking her girls swimming, on many picnics, and camping. She enjoyed providing opportunities for her girls to be in many school and community activities, always keeping them busy. Demonstrating her strong belief in education, there was never a question that the girls would not pursue higher education. When the youngest daughter started school, Phyllis put her business education to work again accepting a position as secretary for the principle at Fosston High School. She often spoke of how she enjoyed being around young people at the high school and her deep appreciation and respect for the school faculty and administration. She retired from Fosston High School in 1982. Following retirement, Phyllis pursued oil painting, crocheting, and flower gardening. She enjoyed reading historical based novels, reading the daily news, and watching the Minnesota Twins. She and Wendell enjoyed spending time with there many life long friends. They both shared a love of observing nature and taking long drives around the countryside. Wendell and Phyllis were married 65 years. Phyllis is survived by her five daughters; Shirley Husel (Eugene) Winston Salem, NC; Carol Lowell, Stillwater MN; Donna Olson (Kenneth) Madison, WI; Holly Meyer (Peter) Rosemount, MN; Bonnie Montgomery (Thomas), Woodbury, MN; eleven grandchildren, and 10 great grand children. She is also survived by 13 nieces and nephews Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Wendell in 2009; grand daughter Laura Husel in 1971; son-in-law Ed Lowell in 2013; her parents; three sisters - Ethel Akers; Mamie Lathem; Argie Tucker; and three brothers - Clarence, Roy, and Mark Boyer; sister-in-law- Bernice Erickson; and one nephew Jerry Boyer.

Visitation

Tuesday, November 29, 2016 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Carlin Funeral Home-Erskine
326 Vance Ave. S. Erskine 56535, United States

Funeral Service

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 11:00 AM
Hope Lutheran Church
508 N. Foss Ave. Fosston 56542, United States