Phyllis Elaine Reimann Broden, 88, of Fertile, MN, departed this life on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, in Riverview Hospital, Crookston, MN, following a stroke. She was born June 27, 1924, to Fred and Emma (Gustafson) Reimann in Crookston. After attending a one-room schoolhouse through 8th grade, she transferred to Crookston High School and lived in an apartment with her sister, Evelyn. When she started 11th grade, the Fertile School District began bus routes and she moved home to finish school, graduating from Fertile High School in 1942. Phyllis attended one year of college at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, before returning home to care for her mother.
On April 16, 1949, Phyllis was united in marriage to Donald Broden at the parsonage in Fertile. They lived in Sunflower, Kansas, for a time until Don was recalled to service and they returned to rural Fertile. The military rescinded the recall after they moved back to Minnesota and the couple remained in Phyllis's childhood home where they raised their family. In August 1995, they moved to Fertile and on September 24, 1995, Don died. They were longtime members of Concordia Lutheran Church.
Over the years, Phyllis was an active and able member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at the Agassiz Environmental Learning Center, and spent many Polk County Fairs working in the Ladies Aid Stand. Phyllis enjoyed her Onstad Township Homemakers friends, where she was inspired to try new things. A voracious reader, she often read as many as 5 books a week. If you see a book from the library with a "P" and a year written in pencil on the back page, you'll know she read it. She looked forward to Bookmobile days.
Phyllis was multi-talented! She could fix a sit-down dinner for 12 people without batting an eye, beat the best of us in Hand & Foot canasta, cribbage, or scrabble, and could sew anything with or without a pattern ranging from tiny Barbie doll clothes to beautiful clothing for herself and her daughter. Spending time with family, especially her granddaughters, brought her great joy. In later years, she relished chatting with her sons about her life experiences. Phyllis enjoyed each opportunity to play games from the time she was a little girl and she was routinely Queen of the Cards. Scores and scores of family and friends were welcomed into her home and beloved cottage on beautiful Union Lake. Holidays were magical and will remain special and treasured memories.
She enjoyed travelling with her daughter Christine, sister Evelyn, and niece Kathie. This quartet shared many adventures as they ventured to Europe, Quebec, New York, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Mexico. Seeing new sights and experiencing new things lifted her spirit and put a smile on her face.
She lived in Sunshine Court, Summerfield apartments and, finally, for the last 15 months, in Fair Meadow Nursing Home. Her easy going and thoughtful ways made it easy to love this sweet lady. Phyllis brought joy, humor and good conversation whenever she was with others.
Phyllis was a bright, shining thread woven tightly into the fabric of her family and she will be dearly missed by her son, Dennis, Moorhead, MN; daughter, Christine (Emery) Lundby, St. Paul, MN; and son, David, Waco TX; five granddaughters Shanon (Jerry) Nowell, Michelle (Nate) Voorheis, Kassia (Shawn) Serrano, Amy Northrup, and Emily Broden; six great-grandchildren Gilbert and Lewie Nowell, Jack and Lila Voorheis, and Sidney and Annie Serrano; nieces, nephews and many friends. Among those greeting her at heaven's door were her parents, husband Don, brother Dennis Reimann and sister Evelyn "Lynn" Neumann.
Memorials are preferred to the Salvation Army.

Memorial Services will be on Friday, August 31, 2012, at 11 AM in the Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.
Visitation will be one hour before the services in the church.
Burial will be in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Fertile, MN.
Erikson-Vik Funeral Home
Fertile, MN

Pastor Phil Larsen, Officiating

Nancy Christian, Organist

Congregational Hymns
"Beautiful Savior"
"Lift High The Cross"

Pastor Phil Larsen, Special Music
"On Eagle's Wings"

Pallbearers
Brian Gustafson Terry Lundby Lori Gustafson
Libby Eid Luther Halstensgard

Honorary Pallbearers
Phyllis' Grandchildren
Shanon Nowell Kassia Serrano
Michelle Voorheis Amy Northrup Emily Broden