Phyllis Ohlsen, 85

Phyllis Eleanor Wood Ohlsen, cherished wife, mother, sister and friend, age 85, of 3704 Crestwood Hills Northeast, Alexandria, died Thursday, December 8, 2011 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Brainerd, following a lengthy illness.

Phyllis was born May 28, 1926 in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, to Edward James and Ada Kate Wood. She graduated from North Collins High School, North Collins, New York in 1942. She met Richard “Dick” Millard Ohlsen in February 1945 and they were married on April 16, 1945. Following Dick’s discharge from the Air Force in 1946, they returned to his hometown of Canby, Minnesota. Their three children, Barbara, Rick and Trisha were born there.

While in Canby, Phyllis worked at the Canby Clinic, Canby Memorial Hospital and was administrative assistant to the Canby city administrator. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and was active in the church auxiliary, church circle, and taught Sunday school and Bible school. She also enjoyed her sewing club, bridge club, leading her children’s Scout troops, chaperoning school trips and square dancing.

Phyllis and Dick moved to Alexandria in 1968 and resided for a short time at Boyd’s Nest on Lake Carlos. They moved to the Crestwood Hills address on Lake L’Homme Dieu in the spring of 1969. Phyllis worked as a legal secretary and then as an educational aide at Central Junior High School from 1971-1977.

Beginning in the winter of 1977, she and Dick enjoyed spending summers in Alexandria and traveling south in the winters. They continued their travels south until spring of 2011.

Phyllis was an avid reader, an accomplished counted-cross-stitch aficionado, a fabulous cook and entertainer, excellent Scrabble and card player, and supporter of education and the arts.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Dick; her children, Barbara and Patrick Spino of Norwalk Ohio, Rick and Darla Ohlsen of Lakeville, and Trisha Ohlsen of Louisville, Kentucky; her grandchildren, Ryan Shoop of Avon Lake, Ohio, Reid Shoop of Norwalk, Ohio, Ross Spino of Norwalk, Ohio, Summer Sellers of Shakopee, Mariah Ohlsen of Minneapolis, Lacey Ohlsen of Fergus Falls, Michlynn Heidi of Burnsville, Samantha Hill of Lakeville, and Ashton Joseph of Las Vegas, Nevada; great-grandchildren, Aidan and Asher Shoop, Cameron and Cohen Shoop, and Aspen, Mia and Siena Sellers, Ava and Reagan Heidi. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Newbold of Buffalo, New York; brother, Edward Wood of East Concord, New York; sister, Kathleen Dudczak of Kingwood, Texas; and her only cousin, Hazel M. Petersen of Cocoa Beach, Florida.

She was predeceased by her parents; twin brothers, who died in infancy; and a grandson, Kellen Ashely Joseph, who died in 2008.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Phyllis’ honor on Sunday, June 10 at 3704 Crestwood Hills Drive NE, Alexandria, from 2 to 4 p.m. All friends are welcome. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in her name.

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