Phyllis Haroldson

Funeral services for Phyllis Haroldson, 97, of Spencer, will be conducted at 11 a.m., Wednesday March 20, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Linn, Grove, Iowa. Vicar Rhonda Wykoff will officiate the service. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Burial will be at Barnes Township Cemetery in Linn Grove. Haroldson passed away Saturday, March 16, 2024, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Home, in Spencer.

Phyllis Lorraine Haroldson, the daughter of Andrew and Sena Sinning Scott, was born near Davis, South Dakota, on Nov. 10, 1926, where she grew up on a farm. She began her education in a country school, graduated from Davis High School and continued her education at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was here that she met Curtis Haroldson when he returned home after serving his country during World War II.

Phyllis became a teacher and taught her first year in Hurley, South Dakota, followed by teaching in the Sioux Falls system until her marriage. She was also a teacher in the Rembrandt School District for several years after her marriage.

Curtis and Phyllis were married June 12, 1949, in Sioux Falls. They became parents of two children, Joyce Lorraine and Keith Douglas. Their first home was on the Haroldson Century Farm near Rembrandt, Iowa. In 1960 the family moved to the farm near Linn Grove, purchased from Curtis’s father. In October 1994, Curtis and Phyllis moved to The Highlands in Spencer, an independent living facility, part of St. Luke Home and Services.

Phyllis was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rembrandt and Trinity Lutheran Church in Linn Grove. She was a Sunday school teacher, served on the Council, the Altar Guild, and was a member of the Women of the ELCA. She was a den mother for Cub Scouts, active in the 4-H program with her family, and a member with friends of the Merry Matrons Club.

Phyllis enjoyed teaching young children; sewing (a skill she learned from her mother); things in nature, especially flowering plants and shrubs, working with flowers and enjoying their beauty, baking, traveling, and listening to good music. Her greatest enjoyment was time spent with family, and as a loving wife to her husband, working together on the family farm.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Curtis on Jan. 25, 2001; son, Keith on Nov. 10, 2014; her parents; and siblings Lester Scott, Mildred Wilkenson, Earl Scott, Vera Dersam and Howard Scott.

She is survived by her daughter, Joyce (Ron) Stover of Mediapolis, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Nancy Haroldson of Las Vegas, Nevada; five grandchildren: Justin (Angie) Stover of Mediapolis, Nathan (Amber) Stover of Sanford, North Carolina, Brian (Su-Han) Haroldson of Oakland, California, Stacy Stover (Wade Meek) of Birmingham, Iowa, Jordan (Steve) Jostes of Las Vegas, Nevada, and special family member, Senait Tesfay of Lorton, Virginia; seven great-grandchildren: Brock, Cora, Isaac, Isaiah, Nolan, Anleigh and Casey; sister, Lois Peterson of Minneapolis, Minnesota; special farm family Josh, Lisa, Chase, Jenna and Kaylee Jessen of Linn Grove, Iowa; many nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Barnes Township Cemetery and mailed to: Joyce Stover, 1123 G Ave., Mediapolis, IA 52637.

Warner Funeral Home, of Spencer, is in charge of arrangements.