Funeral Services for Phyllis I. Toft will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2, at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea. The Reverend Todd Walsh will officiate. Interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery, Ellendale. Visitation will be one hour before services at the funeral home.
Phyllis Irene Toft passed away on September 28th at Thorne Crest Senior Living in Albert Lea, MN. She was born on Mother’s Day, May 12th, 1929, the daughter of Irvin and Cora (Gunderson) Toft.
She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, MN. Phyllis graduated from Ellendale High School in 1947, as Valedictorian, received her BA in Business Education from Mankato Teacher College, Mankato, MN, and Masters Degree in Counseling and Guidance from Fresno State in CA. She taught in MN (Blue Earth, Waterville, and Bemidji), LaJunta, CO, and the last 31 years at Taft, CA, with classes in Hawaii and a sabbatical in Copenhagen, Denmark, retiring from teaching in 1987. After retiring she taught GED at the Community Correctional Facility near Taft, returning to live in Minnesota near family in July of 2015.
Phyllis loved traveling with friends and her sisters in the US and to Mexico, Europe, Scandinavia and Canada. Along with her travels she enjoyed reading, handwork, crafts, needlework, painting, all kinds of art, and golf.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Penny (Garry) Nordhorn, Kent (Kim) Toft, Robert Toft, Sharleen (Brian) Olson, Timothy (Nancy) Toft, Peggy Toft, Allan (Debbie) Toft, Linda (Jeff) Batty and Sarah (Brent) Kohn. Sisters-in-law Evelyn Toft (Mrs. Kenneth) and Shirley Toft (Mrs Paul), as well as great and great great nieces and nephews, and special friend Julie Gullickson.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Olive, Carol and infant Grace Toft. Her brothers, Gordon, Charles, Kenneth, James and Paul Toft, sisters-in-law Marge Toft (Mrs Charles) and Margaret Toft (Mrs. James).
She will be remembered as a beloved daughter, sister, aunt and dedicated educator.
Memorials can be directed to the First Lutheran Cemetery Fund, Ellendale, MN
A special thank you to the Assisted Living and Memory Care staff at Thorne Crest Senior living and also Albert Lea Mayo Hospice.