Obituary of Phyllis Landsness

A funeral service for Phyllis Landsness, age 78, of Spirit Lake, will be held Friday, May 5, 2017 at 1:30 PM at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 4th from 5:00-7:00pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Phyllis Jane Landsness, age 78, of Arnolds Park, formerly of Sioux Rapids, passed away peacefully at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa on April 28, 2017. Phyllis Jane (Sewalson) Landsness was born August 2, 1938 in Sioux Rapids, Iowa to S. Oswald and Mildred (Bertness) Sewalson. She was baptized at Little Sioux Valley Lutheran Church in rural Rembrandt and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Linn Grove. Phyllis graduated from Linn Grove Consolidated School in 1956. Following high school graduation, she attended Morningside College where she obtained her two year teaching certificate. She graduated from Buena Vista College with a BA in 1965. Following teaching for several years, she obtained her MBA in education from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. She had a teaching career for over forty years in Sheldon, Marathon, Sioux Rapids-Rembrandt and Sioux Central. Phyllis and Merlin Landsness were united in marriage on August 6, 1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Linn Grove. To this union one son was born. Phyllis and "Cook" lived on and farmed the Landsness family farm in rural Marathon until 2009 when they built a permanent home and retired on East Lake Okoboji. Music was a large part of Phyllis' life. Singing in the choir and playing the organ every Sunday morning at First Lutheran in Sioux Rapids and First Lutheran in West Okoboji was enjoyable. Phyllis and Merlin transferred to First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji in 2012 where they were active members. Phyllis also enjoyed playing the ukulele and was in the church bell choir. They traveled throughout the United States. One of Phyllis' favorite accomplishments was riding in RAGBRAI several times. Those left to cherish her memory is her sister, DeEtte Blomberg; nieces and nephews, Tom (Gina) Blomberg, Trent, Claire and Trace; Susan (Mike) Hodge, Emily and Alex; Brent Landsness; Brianna (Darell) Pounds, Skyden and Mikayla Landsness; cousins and friends. Preceding her in death was her husband, an infant son and her parents. Phyllis will be missed by all who loved and knew her.